Mentoring First Time Parents for Eldera...

About two months ago, after being approached by parents all over the world in need of mentorship, Dana A. Griffin reached out to the Eldera community to see if anyone was interested in helping pilot a parent program. Myself, along with another Eldera member, stepped up. We were immediately paired up with a young mother in South Korea. Her initial interests were focused on learning how to raise her 6 year old daughter to have good character.

We've met with this amazing mother and her lovely daughter three times. Our first meeting was more or less a "getting to know you session." Our mentee and her adorable daughter were present. We engaged in small talk about things like our families, our respective careers, where we live, and what the weather is like. All of this while our mentee's daughter, in the background, would occasionally show us something she was playing with. Towards the end of the first session, as she grew more and more comfortable with my fellow Eldera partner and I, our mentee expressed interest in engaging in a substantive exchange about concerns she had relative to her daughter's experiences and interactions both at school and in public. At the end of the session our mentee requested that we schedule a monthly, recurring meeting. My partner and I happily agreed.

The second and third sessions focused more on our mentee asking for advice as to how to navigate specific situations that have arisen regarding her daughter's education. Being a retired educator, armed with 34 years of knowledge of teachers, teaching, and how schools operate, I felt comfortable taking the lead with regard to how we addressed our mentee's concerns. I decided that the best path forward was to frame my answers and advice in a way that would empower our mentee to take proactive measures in an effort to better advocate for her child. Our mentee was very appreciative to say the least.

To say that being a part of these conversations has been an honor would be an understatement. I have thoroughly enjoyed them and look forward to continuing our relationship with each other.

Turns out parents need support just as much as the youth Eldera mentors like myself are already serving. This pilot parent program has unlimited potential and I am proud to be a part of it!!