Home Visits...

During the year Beckie and I visit the homes and families of the girls we work with. Some mums have welcomed us in and chatted a lot, others have just stood watching the television while we try and talk to them, and some have been somewhere in the middle. 

The houses have differed too....we have sat in the utility space as they have no living room, we have been welcomed in into the dinning room/TV room/ bedroom, we have sat in really nice homes too, that from the outside you would never think it nice.

Home visits give a real insight into how our girls are being bought up, the 'feel' of the family home and situation. If they are receiving the basic and essential care they need. How the girls are doing at home, with school, and it also gives us a chance to see how the family are doing - is there anything we can do for them. 

On Thursday we did a home visit of a little girl called Kelly (not her real name). Her mum was not home, so we briefly spoke with her aunty. We walked into the house, to come straight into the kitchen, with food on the floor, and in the corner next to the cooker (which was covered with dirty pots) was a very dirty looking bed. The house smelt and was unclean and very small. I think there was only 2 rooms. 

It is clear the family do not have money....but I did notice they had a television on top of the fridge. Yes I am know I judged them, but I did think - what are your priorities?! 

I just say your daughter peel an orange with a rusty dirty knife, and yet you have a television.

The house is really dirty - maybe spend the money on buying a broom, or watch the Tv less and clean the house up a little bit.

Your cupboards are empty and have no food in them - but yet you have money for a TV

These were my judgements and probably still are...I don't know the whole situation. I know it is not my place to judge.

It just makes me wonder....

what is the future of Kelly? What does she think is her future? Does her home reflect other areas of her life? Does her home life effect other areas? Does it impact her worth as a person?