Thursday, September 26, 2024
I remember when I first met Hailey. She was just starting at the New Horizons Group Home in St.Paul. I took one look one at this pretty, shy, kind little young lady and thought to myself, "these kids here are going to traumatize her". My guess is she was going to leave crying after a few hours because of a few of the kids behaviors towards staff at the time. She looked like an angel that had never seen or done anything bad in her life. She looked like a person who would put her hands over her ears when someone swore...and these kids swore.. a lot..at us sometimes. Anyway, I was the one that was to train her and she was to just shadow me to see what we did and how we responded, our chores, introduce her to the kids, etc.
While Hailey was shadowing me the first day she stayed quiet at first. When it was time to start prepping for supper for the kids she asked if she could help. I told her, "sure if you would like". She got right in and started to help get out the stuff to make chili. I asked if she liked to cook. She said she liked to cook things she knew how to make. She preferred baking.
Chili was one of the things she could cook. She said her mom had a great recipe for chili. I asked if she wanted to take over and make her moms chili and I could just go clean the bathrooms. She agreed. Boy did she know how to make a mess in the kitchen. I was like, "where did all these dishes come from?" She said she had one of the kids help her after they asked what she was making she offered to teach them how.
I smiled and said, "okay, I'm going to teach you how to clean while you cook." I told her to keep the garbage close, do dishes as they were getting dirty, and wipe as it spills. She asked me if that meant she had to cook again tomorrow. She explained that she was tired after cooking that much for so many. Writer said that tomorrow she could watch me. They kids loved her moms chili and even offered to serve her a bowl and to come sit with them.
One boy made fun of the boy who did this for her saying that he must have a crush on her and that they were going to have sex later. out of nowhere Hailey says "no I'm going to have sex with my boyfriend Nathan later" we all laughed together and sat around the table with the kids eating her moms chili. They was the right time all of the kids ate supper at the table together and with the staff. not one kid fought, not one kid AWOL'ed that night, and everyone went to bed on time.
She did eventually get to see the other side of the kids and it did not faze her at all. She was my favorite worker there. I asked for her to be on my team so I could be her shift coordinator. this way I'd be able to work with her. The one thing she hated was the found of having to restrain a kid. but she never had to. and I had her back.
She became like my little sister. We became good friends and realized we had a lot in common when it came to things we worried about and been through. We talked often. I loved when she would ask me for advice. Sometimes I'd ask her for advice too. When the shelter closed she started at the women shelter. She was able to convince me to come too. We worked together again. This time she trained me with some things.
I loved her like a sister. She was a great friend. I'll always miss her presence. She was a Gem. A real, on earth angel. and now she is an angel above.
Love Lisa Zimmer
