I have recently started running with girls from the BBH home, a Harris County Juvenile probationary home. Only those girls who have the best behavior are allowed to come run, so it is a privilege to them. Many have never run before, but they are all doing great. We just do one loop of the park each time they come. They are so excited when they get there and are already looking to better their times each time around.
I love this time of year and love that I'm getting to spread a little Christmas cheer in an unexpected way. I am extra excited about giving these little things to the girls because I already know how appreciative they will be.
I noticed after the first run that they were wearing heavy cotton socks (county issued) and were getting blisters, so I thought I might get them some dryfit socks to help out. I got pretty excited about getting them stuff, then took a step back and asked myself if I should be rewarding girls who have done something to get themselves in the corrections system in the first place. Then I immediately answered myself back, thinking they have been punished enough. They are away from their families, friends, schools, etc. Anything I can do to encourage something good (i.e., running), I am going to do. The day I brought the socks, two other volunteers from the group brought even bigger surprises with brand new shorts and sports bras for everyone. They thought socks were all they were getting at first and they were beyond grateful for those, not to mention the rest.
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It is safe to say most of the girls have grown up in environments I cannot even begin to fathom. I still do not know why any individual girl is there, and I am not asking. If they want to bring it up, I will talk about it with them, but it is their own business and we are there to run, not talk about whatever mistakes they made in the past. They are all really starting to open up and it is awesome. They invited us to their Christmas party last night and I felt really, really bad I could not make it. They are giving us hugs now after the runs, asking questions about our own lives, etc. It is awesome.
I had been wanting to get the girls some gloves too because they do not have any. The past few runs have been cold enough that many of us volunteers have had gloves on and I feel bad! Well, yesterday I got a gift certificate to Target in the mail from Mrs. Clark (Mom #2) as a Christmas gift. I hope she does not mind that I did not exactly spend it on myself (oh wait, I did get a pair of pink tights for myself), but I used it to buy the girls gloves, Christmas Cards, little gift bags (pink, of course), and other fun goodies. I asked their supervisor this morning if it was okay if I did something like that and he said "go for it" so you know I did. Being able to help the girls out in any way is a true gift in and of itself, so Mrs. Clark's gift will still bring me plenty of joy.
I love this time of year and love that I'm getting to spread a little Christmas cheer in an unexpected way. I am extra excited about giving these little things to the girls because I already know how appreciative they will be.
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