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Greetings!
The month of February was filled with love here at UMCH! Did you feel it? With their generous and open hearts the youth hosted a Hearts for Haiti benefit on Valentine's Day to raise money for four orphanages that were destroyed in the earthquake. Also, during this season of Lent, the youth have started a study of parables each week. As part of this weekly Bible study, eight teens have committed to learning skits and acting out the parables. Afterwards, they break into groups to talk about how these stories apply to their everyday lives.
Leigh Cottage is continuing to get closer to completion with the help of volunteers from across the state and across the country. Some have written words of encouragement on the rafters and beams to those that will live there. To see more about Leigh Cottage click here. To see the latest news about our youth on campus and how they are changing and growing, visit our website or check us out on Facebook. UMCH is always looking for willing hands and people who like to share their love through service. If that's you, click here to contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more info. Remember, your contributions help us bring love and healing to the youth and families here. Thank you for helping us provide that to those who need it most and may the love of Christ abound in your life. |
| God Made Us a Family |
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Finding Family at UMCH
 We like to think of ourselves here at UMCH as a big family. Although our family is made up of cottage mates and staff instead of a typical two-parent home, we bond and share a love that is remarkable in itself. We play games together, worship together, study together and laugh together. The youth that come to UMCH are here because their family at home is broken. By bringing healing and stability into their lives, kids learn to share and trust. They support each other through successes and failures, and begin to see each other as extended family. It is an amazing feeling when youth here at UMCH choose to share a problem or a success with you. Every time a student shares a part of their story, we are humbled to be allowed into their life. This allows a way for the youth to have a voice, to be heard, and receive some comfort or advice during difficult times in their life. We are a family and we stick together; furthering the future of our children, one child at a time. |
| When to Say, "Yes" to Quitting |
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Four Questions to Ask
Studies show that kids who participate in sports are:
* less likely to become teen parents,
* less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol,
* less likely to become involved in gang activity,
* have fewer behavioral problems in school,
handle conflicts better,
* demonstrate better social skills than those who are not involved in sports.
So how do you know when it's time to let them quit? Asking several questions will help discern the problem.
Why does my child want to quit?
It could be an overbearing coach or another child who's teasing her. For some kids, saying "I quit" is their way of getting out of an uncomfortable situation without having to confront it.
If you suspect that's what's happening, attend a class or practice, then you'll have the information you need to draw out your child's feelings. From there, the two of you can work out the next step; hopefully it won't be necessary to quit.
Is my child burnt out?
Sometimes a child wants to quit an activity because he has too much to do. If that's the case, dropping out can be a good thing. In the future, help your child decide how many activities he can take on. Choose one sport per season, or let your kid opt for less intense activities.
Does my child expect too much of himself?
There are kids who won't let themselves be less than perfect because they think they'll look incompetent to other people, especially their parents. Make sure your child doesn't fall into this trap by helping her understand that everyone starts as a beginner and that the only way to improve is to stay in the game. Quitting should probably not be an option.
Am I the problem?
Ask yourself, "What is my child gaining from this experience?". If your answer has something to do with keeping Jr. focused so he can get a scholarship, and then drafted to the pros., then you're going down the wrong path, and it may be smart to let him quit. |
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The United Methodist Children's Home is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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