Beginning of Life’s parent & child programmes provide support, knowledge and a loving approach for parents struggling with lonliness, depression and feelings of inadequacy – lifting the burden of parenthood and enabling them to enjoy their children.
Last year, a mother and her young twins joined Beginning of Life’s parent and child programme in Chisinau. Anya* was emotionally exhausted, even though the children’s father was also involved in raising them. She carried out the daily tasks of caring for them in an almost robotic manner, rarely speaking or interacting with the children other than to prepare a meal, put them down for sleep, change their clothes or nappies. In turn, the children were showing little sign of beginning to speak.
During the parent sessions, the team helped Anya to learn to communicate with her boys, emphasising the importance of constant verbalisation of what she was doing and why, and loving interaction.
In their peer group, the twins began observing and imitating the behaviour of the other children, not just each other. They learned how to interact with other children and let them into their world, which can be especially challenging for twins, as they often develop a social circle that primarily consists of each other.
Anya was now listening to and applying the recommendations she received. As a result, the children’s interaction with the world—and especially with other children—improved significantly. At long last, the children also started talking!
The Beginning of Life team has helped to lift what had become the burden of parenthood for Anya, and led her to a place where she could begin to feel some of a mother’s joy.
*Name changed