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Transcript

Lillian Washington - Foster Grandparent · Look Who's Talking

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We'll be right back.
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Good morning.
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You are listening to Look Who's Talking.
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I am Cameron Minter.
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I am your co-host and our wonderful host, Jessica Coffie, is in the building.
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I gonna have to cut the music out because she's got some ailments going on.
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Sorry.
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I lost my voice.
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Listen to that.
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That's terrible.
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I know it sounds kind of bad.
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I'm trying to be closer to my...
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You're both peeped this morning.
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I know.
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I don't know what happened.
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I think it's seasonal allergies and all that.
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Yes, I'm so glad you mentioned that because my allergies have been tripping.
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And I feel like I need to give you a tissue because your eyes are running.
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Yeah.
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I mean, that's normal for me now.
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It's terrible because I don't like it.
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I don't like it a lot.
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So are you on medication?
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No, it's allergies.
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Come on.
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It's allergies.
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You tough it out.
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Listen, you're in denial.
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You need to be on medication.
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I sprayed some throat spray.
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Oh, no.
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Uh-uh.
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It took some...
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I mean, allergy medicine maybe.
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Yeah, allergy medicine regularly.
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It's not helping though.
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Look, you live in Kentucky.
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It is the worst, the absolute worst place for allergies.
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Well, you know, you pick your cards.
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So you still think a young girl has to take medication every day.
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I do, yeah.
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But you do.
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You have to take medication every day.
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What's been going on with you, Jessica?
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Nothing.
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So you know we just had one of our head start graduations.
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Yes.
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Woo-hoo.
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And it was great.
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You know what?
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What I love is this year we've had, well, we will be having both graduations at colleges.
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So, you know, hopefully the kids and the parents see...
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That's foreshadowing.
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Absolutely, where they're going.
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Look at that.
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That's all right.
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That is all right.
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Yeah.
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So that means that we're coming to an end of a school year.
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Yes, we are.
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And we are.
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However, we have kids all year long.
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We're ramping up for the next school year.
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Yeah.
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So we are planning for next year.
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We've been planning for next year.
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Ain't that right?
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And, yeah.
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This is like the busiest time for us.
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I know.
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I know.
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It's no rest.
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No rest.
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Well...
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Just what's next?
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I was going to say, you know there's no rest for the wicked.
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However...
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There you go.
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I've been getting rest.
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You have spoken that into your life.
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I've been getting rest.
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So that don't talk about me.
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That ain't talking about me, baby.
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I don't know who it's talking about, but...
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Well, that's absolutely wonderful.
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It's time for us to take a coffee break.
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So for today's Coffie break, I want to say sometimes the bad things that happen in our
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lives put us in a direct...
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Directly on a path to the best things that will ever happen to us.
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Kim, that quote really sticks out to me because there was a job I was at.
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Before I came here.
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Right.
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And I was mad and I left because I was mad.
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I felt like another new position that they had.
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Like I trained the girl who they put in the position.
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I was mad.
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That's bad.
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However, coming here, I'm glad they chose her.
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That's right.
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Because I wouldn't be sitting where I am today if it wasn't that.
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That's the truth.
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That's the truth.
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Sometimes we look at obstacles as a stumbling block.
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Yeah.
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But it's actually a building block.
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Exactly.
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We take those obstacles and we use them as stepping stones into our next level.
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So get out of my sermon, Jessica.
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I'm not preaching today, but I will be preaching about it on Sunday.
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Come on.
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Tag me in.
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Tag.
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I might come so you can tag me in.
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Powerful, powerful, powerful.
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Okay.
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All right.
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What have we got going on today?
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So today there's another element of Head Start that a lot of people don't know.
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Talk about it.
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We have foster grandparents.
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Foster grandparents come into the centers and they are a part of our education team.
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You know, a lot of kids, your grandparents, think about your grandparents.
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When you go see your grandparents, it's all lovey-dovey.
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That's it.
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You don't do nothing wrong.
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Absolutely.
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They spoil you.
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Most of us.
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Yeah.
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So the concept of a foster grandparent is to have that older representation in the classroom
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to provide that nurture.
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Today we have Miss Lillian Washington who has been, well, I know you've been at Scroggin
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Park since I've been here, and that's been 13 years at least.
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Wow.
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How long have you been?
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Almost 15 years.
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Yes.
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Wow.
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Welcome.
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Welcome to the show.
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We're so glad to have you.
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Yes.
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So being part of Head Start is definitely a commitment.
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Tell us why you, how you heard about being a foster grandparent and what made you decide
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that's something that you wanted to help volunteer with.
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Well, I had really started out when I got to Lexington.
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I really started out coaching.
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And then as time went on...
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You're a Hooper, right?
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I'm a Hooper.
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I was a Hooper.
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Uh-oh.
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I was a Hooper.
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No, you said it right the first time.
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You are a Hooper.
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What?
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Yes, I was a Hooper.
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And I ran track also.
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You got, and I'm sorry, recognized for during, is it called Lakeshaw?
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No.
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Lakeshaw, the Hall of Fame.
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Yeah.
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Were you in the Hall of Fame?
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You were in some, you got recognized somewhere.
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It was black history.
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And I was recognized as being the first black woman to play basketball for the University
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of Kentucky.
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Wow.
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Yes, yes.
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I knew it was something.
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Yeah.
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That's awesome.
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I know.
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So that, and that took me a lot of places.
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Absolutely.
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And I wanted to go even higher.
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But sometimes things happen.
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That's right.
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It doesn't occur the way it should.
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So, and that leads you into other opportunities.
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And like you said, it takes you on a detour to do something great for someone else other
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than yourself.
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Yeah.
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And sometimes it's met for you to take a detour so you can get to the place that you need
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to be in your own life or really to help someone else.
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Right.
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And that's one of the reasons why I chose the Foster Grandparent Program because I also
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was raising my grandson.
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Oh, okay.
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And that was a very different thing for me.
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But it also gave me an opportunity to get it right a second time.
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Sometimes we don't always get it right the first time.
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Ooh, say that.
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That's something to say.
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And receiving, I call it receiving, and it was a gift to me because it changed my life.
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Yeah.
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And really learning how to do things different than our parents did when we were coming up.
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Right.
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But not only that, it taught me to be able, it really taught me to calm myself, to see
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things in a different light.
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Gotcha.
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And working with other kids in community action because most of the kids are deprived.
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Right.
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Our poverty is stricken as we call it.
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And they don't get the opportunities that others get, that they have.
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So giving what I had been given in life and teaching them something different on maybe
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what they don't get at home.
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Doing things differently as far as education.
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A lot of the foster grandparents that we have in our program, it's a gift to us to do this
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for these kids because a lot of the kids don't, the parents work.
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Yeah.
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And a lot of times that the kids don't get the love or the understanding of just that
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extra care and attention that they would get at home.
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They don't get that.
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So it's up to us to make sure that they get that nurturing part in their life.
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Right.
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So tell us, what is your favorite part about going to the classroom and being a foster
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grandparent?
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Well, the favorite part to me is when you see them do something different.
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You look at them at the first part of the year.
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And you look at them almost at the end of the year and you go like, wow, I can remember
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when this child came in here, he couldn't do this or he couldn't do that.
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And now he can do that.
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Because the program is really structured really for the kids.
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And I think that it gives me such pleasure to see them grow from not doing something,
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not being able to talk in a sentence or just in the daily activities that we have for the
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children.
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They may not have that at home.
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And to see them grow in different levels of their life as they step in and out.
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It just warms my heart.
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So you said that you were raising your grandchild.
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And so that brings you back into something that, you know, like when you've raised your
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kids, you're done with that, right?
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And so now when you're raising your grandchild, then you are back into that system and learning
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all over again yourself.
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So that when you come in to help other children, then you're already acclimated to, you know,
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what's going on with them now.
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That's where I am as a grandparent.
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I'm getting, I haven't listened to kids songs and, you know what I'm saying?
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I'm just, you know, now I'm getting reeducated into raise, to help, you know, raising these
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children.
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And it's powerful for me.
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So one of those things is, what was one of the things that is so different from when
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you were raising your child to what's happening now?
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Is there anything that you can think of that's?
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Oh, wow.
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Yeah.
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Oh, yeah.
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You know, you have to really change a lot of things.
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And I know that everything that you teach, when you teach a child, you have to teach
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them differently.
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You know, all kids can't teach the same.
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Right.
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And that was one of the things that I learned from teaching my grandson was everything's
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different.
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Math is different, everything is different.
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You said math.
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Stop.
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And, you know, there's some problems I couldn't even do.
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Right.
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Right.
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How they do math now, I'm like.
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It seems like it might be easier, but just to relearn, I know, to relearn the whole system.
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Lord have mercy.
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And, you know, have you seen, you know, from when you were a parent to when you've been
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a grandparent or providing guidance as a foster grandparent, the effects of social media?
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It has, I think it has destroyed our kids.
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Whoops.
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I really think it has because we didn't have all that.
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Right.
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I see that the kids are, they're wiser than we were at different ages.
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And it's really scary.
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Yes.
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I think you can say that.
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It's absolutely scary.
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The impact that it has on our kids.
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I look at my grandson, he's nine months old, and he's already using my phone and scrolling.
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Oh, wow.
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He knows to scroll on the phone.
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And, you know, on the flip side, there's, you know, my mother-in-law still struggling
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with her phone.
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You know what I'm saying?
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But she wants to keep up with the up-to-date phone.
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Yeah, it's just, it's an amazing connection that the Head Start program does, bringing
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our seniors in with our youngest people to help nurture.
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And there's so much wisdom that our seniors have that they can pass on to the kids.
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I love that program because it connects.
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It connects.
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So I think we're going to take a break real quick, and we'll come back and we'll talk
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more with Ms. Lillian.
14:03
We're on one.
14:05
Ha!
14:07
This past year has highlighted the strength of Community Action Council.
14:21
Every day, our staff works together to help families recover from this crisis.
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We're educating children at home and in person, helping parents who lost their jobs, and helping
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households avoid eviction.
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Our work at Community Action Council has never been more important than it is right now,
14:38
so why not join us?
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We have employment opportunities requiring a range of skills from entry level to advanced.
14:44
Apply online at commaction.org.
14:48
Community Action Council's Head Start programs are now enrolling for the 24-25 school year
14:53
in 15 counties, including Lexington.
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Head Start offers high quality early childhood education for qualifying families with children
15:00
between the ages of six weeks and five years old.
15:03
Spaces are limited and filling up quickly.
15:05
So, to help ensure your child receives the Head Start advantage this year, start your
15:09
application today by calling 859-233-4600 or go online at commaction.org.
15:17
That's commaction.org.
15:40
You are listening to Look Who's Talking and we are talking with Ms. Lillian, foster grand
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parent volunteer over at Scroggen Park.
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We are just talking about this program.
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Ms. Lillian, how long did you say you were with the program?
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15 years.
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15 years.
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Okay.
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So, tell us more about the program.
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What does it take to be a foster grandparent?
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And what does that mean, being a foster grandparent?
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I mean, I'm really proud to be a foster grandparent.
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Our program does a lot of things, not just only working with the kids.
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It helps us.
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I mean, it helps us with that extra stipend income that we may need.
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Let's talk about the stipend.
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So, this program, when you get involved, they will also allow you to have a stipend.
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Tell us about that.
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The stipend doesn't affect your check because it's like, as they call it, it's a stipend.
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And it not only that, it generates other things as far as community action, as far as our
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heating.
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Most of us, we can get La Heap.
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La Heap, yeah, okay.
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Other things that they offer, the older generation, we really sometimes are the first to know.
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Oh, that's great.
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That helps us in a lot of ways.
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It really helps us in really a lot of areas.
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So, not only do you help out in the classroom, but it helps you get connected with resources
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that are being provided for the community.
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Yes, that's important when you get to a certain age.
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Resources that we can get that we didn't know that we had.
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Resources that we could get, maybe that we have a home.
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Our windows could be something wrong with our windows.
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We could tell our supervisor, this is going on with us, and then they'll get us to the
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correct persons.
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Right.
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So, yes, it really is good for just about everything that we need.
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Gotcha.
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So, that program is available.
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I'm trying to figure out the ages that you need to be to be a foster grandparent, and
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I'm looking it up, so.
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It starts at 55.
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Look at that.
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You're just stopping me from doing some work.
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All right, I appreciate it.
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So, 55 years old, and you can apply, and like she said, it's not affecting your income.
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And so, that's something wonderful to think about if you're 55 and older, and you want
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to impact a child's life, join up to the foster grandparent program.
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Right.
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And I'll tell you where to do that.
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That's on our, you can give us a call at 859-233-4600.
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I didn't know if you were going to do the 4600.
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I know.
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Sometimes, you just break it up a little bit different.
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But, yes, foster grandparent program is looking for grandparents, and it's a wonderful place
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to get started.
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Get your foot in the program.
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Yeah.
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How many hours do you devote a week to going in the classrooms?
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I was really devoting between 35 to 40 hours a week.
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Oh, wow.
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I was.
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And then, when I went back to Georgetown, that's where I'm from, I kind of cut back
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to more or less 35 between 30 to 35.
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And in the foster grandparent program, you have the flexibility of those hours, correct?
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We have the flexibility to really work through how you want to work it, whatever is good
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for yourself.
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And that's, you know, as long as you have over 20 hours, then you're good.
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Got you.
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Do y'all ever come to get, because Ms. Lillian isn't the only foster grandparent we have.
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Do you all ever come together as foster grandparents and talk about some of the things that you
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all do in the classrooms and things like that?
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Yes.
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We do that once a month, and we talk about everything that we have gone through, are
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going through.
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And we discuss issues that we feel that we can help each other with, or we could do better
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with the program, or what would help as far as what we could do better for the children.
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And just that camaraderie time that we have with one another, it's good.
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That's good.
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I remember a few years ago, I used to go to that, they would have a meeting, and they
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would play cards, they would talk, they would play games, they would do different things,
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but it was all about interacting with each other, because as a foster grandparent, you
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have that opportunity to pour into others.
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And as you said, help others.
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If you're struggling on something over here, then I've gone through it, maybe I can help
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you.
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That's a great outlet to help make sure that our foster grandparents are connected.
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Ms. Lillian, I have an important question.
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Uh-oh.
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Because I'm one of those grandkids that I need to know.
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Do you have a favorite?
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I guess.
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It is answered.
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Grandparents have favorites, Cam.
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Yes, we have favorites.
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I know it.
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I know it.
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We can't have it.
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We have favorites.
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Uh-huh.
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We're not going to have you claim no names.
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I'm not going to ask you, but...
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Don't say no names.
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I would not.
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You're getting me in trouble.
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But I only have one.
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Uh-oh.
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I only have one granddaughter.
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Uh-oh.
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And I have a great granddaughter.
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Oh, you're talking personal.
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Oh, Lord.
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I have a great granddaughter.
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That's really going to get you in trouble.
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But that's awesome.
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That's awesome.
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So with this program, it's just a wonderful opportunity to expand and keep you active.
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You know, once you get out of the workforce or once you get, you know, retired or whatever
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you're doing for your normal income, this is just a way to stay connected, to stay engaged,
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and stay active.
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And I remember my mother-in-law was in the program, and she absolutely loved it.
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She absolutely loved it.
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Her health issues prevented her from continuing, but it was one of the highlights of her day.
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Good deal.
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Tell us some of the good highlights of your day.
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What does a day in the life of the foster grandparent look like?
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Well, when I get to the, you know, when you walk, when I get to the center, when you walk
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in, you get the kids greeting you.
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Oh, hello, Miss Lily, you know?
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And when I get there, I usually try to interact with the kids.
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Usually I try to get there early because I enjoy fixing their breath.
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Because sometimes if we don't maybe not have someone, a teacher, that, you know, has to
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be so many teachers in the classroom, I don't mind going back and saying, okay, I would
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like to do this because I like to cook anyway, but I just can't do the cooking that I would
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like.
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Miss Lillian probably in that kitchen putting a little bit of salt in the green beans.
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No, no butter.
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No, really.
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But, you know, for real, and the kids hold me to that.
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And when I don't, if I want to take off, they'll say that I did not do a good job.
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Then I'm not the chef anymore.
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I've been fired.
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So anyway, you know, it's just, I enjoy my day.
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I enjoy just making sure that, you know, that they are enjoying the activity.
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I enjoy doing the activities with them.
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I love playtime, dance time, water time.
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And it does, it does.
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That's really the day.
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And then as they leave, it's a sad party that leaves too.
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It really is.
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Because they keep you young.
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But from the time that you go in, the time that you leave, you're moving.
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Totally active.
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Do you read with the children?
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Yes, yes.
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And that's important because they always have their favorite book.
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And I like to live.
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I like to get encouraged to form when I read to them.
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Listen, I see it coming out.
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I do.
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I see it coming out.
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I get encouraged to form.
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They just memorize.
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What is Scroggins' favorite book in your classroom?
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I like the Little Red Hen and I like the Big Red Dog.
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So that's my favorite book.
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That's not theirs.
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That's all right.
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So the program is really active, it's really engaging with the children.
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And you make memories.
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So as our Head Start Director just said, we just finished our graduation.
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And you had mentioned that you make such connections with them.
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You've been here 15 years.
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So do you have children that remember you and come back and bring up, hi, Miss Lillian?
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Yes, I do.
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And sometimes I don't let them see me, shed a tear, but I do.
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And I have pictures when I was, I started at Russell.
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And I had a picture that was on my table.
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And Miss Marisha had to come over for something and she had saw the picture of all the kids.
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And then all the kids are 15, 16.
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And she could not believe how some of them were so small, how they looked.
26:09
And then now the kids of today, that they are older, she was just like, wow.
26:15
She took a picture of it so she could show some of the people who work in your organization
26:22
that they had younger kids at that time that were there, four and five.
26:26
And when she saw that picture, she says, where did you get that picture at?
26:30
She said, Miss Lillian has that picture.
26:32
So it was a picture that the kids had gifted me of all of the class.
26:37
Wow.
26:38
Yeah, yeah.
26:39
Oh, that's sweet.
26:40
Yeah, so looking at them when they were small and now they've just grown, you're like, I'm getting old.
26:47
But a part of you, yeah, a part of you has been imparted into them.
26:52
And that's something that they'll always have and they'll always take with them.
26:57
So that's powerful.
26:59
I'm so glad that you are a volunteer, well, that you're working in our foster grandparent program.
27:05
Thank you.
27:06
It's life changing and you are changing lives.
27:10
So I'm just happy that you're on the show.
27:13
I'm happy that this program is getting some recognition today.
27:18
Yeah.
27:19
Let's tell folks how to sign up again.
27:21
You have to be 55 years old, older.
27:24
And you can call us at 859-233-4600.
27:32
859-233-4600.
27:39
Say it in the microphone.
27:41
Our word of the day.
27:42
Oh, that's right.
27:43
Is generation.
27:45
Generation.
27:46
Look at there.
27:47
We, Jessica Coffee's on it.
27:50
Her voice may be gone, but her mind is strong.
27:54
All right, the head start highlight word of the day is generation.
27:59
We thank you for listening.
28:02
Keep telling people, share it.
28:04
You're listening to look who's talking.
28:07
Thank you for being on the show.
28:09
Thank you so much.
28:11
What's next?
28:12
We'll see you next time.