JAFARECToday, a mother and her child who had been staying at the shelter for two weeks were discharged and returned home. Raising a child at home is, in many ways, a lot of pressure for the mother, and not a good thing for either her or the child.
However, there is not much she can do about the situation, so she has no choice but to maintain a balance and do what she can to change the situation.
What I can do for such mothers and children is to provide them with a space where they can spend their time freely without being criticized or blamed by anyone, to cook them delicious meals, and to offer them a place where they can talk with people who are involved in various family issues. I can’t change the living environment of the mother and child, and I am powerless to do anything about it.
I can, however, offer psychological support to the mother by helping her to cope with her anxiety, loneliness, anger, and sadness, reassuring her that I will do everything I can to support her, and giving her the courage and self-affirmation to endure difficult situations. However, I am convinced that this support will be of great help to her in her future life.
This function of the JAFAREC shelter I run may be the function of a dependable family home that everyone used to have. It is a sense of security that can be best described by the words, “If you need anything, you can always come home. I gave her and her daughter a hug and sent them both off with those words. I’m really a mom at home… I’m doing Mom Mich.
Originally posted on September 25, 2019
English text translated with DeepL (Japanese to English) and checked by Mina.
