Village News ~ Spring 2004

Playing a Part Plays a Big Role with the Children
By Patty Danova

Every spring the Coachella Valley seems to be flooded with hundreds of beautiful butterflies. We have become so accustomed to seeing these little flying canvases that we often forget the arduous metamorphosis they’ve experienced.

I frequently think of these butterflies when I see a new batch of children come into Martha’s Village & Kitchen. Little faces full of uncertainty and often very fearful. At our Children’s Services Department we have all the typical programs that subtly coax the children into their own personal transformation, but every once in a while something absolutely magical happens and the butterflies leave us awestruck and speechless.

It all began with the initiation of the Grandmothers’ Club. After a few setbacks and many meetings this wonderful group of volunteers finally began brewing tons of fun and excitement in the department. Their first order of business was organizing a talent show. As program manager of the department, I felt a little apprehensive. How in the world would we get all the children to participate when so many of them have some pretty complicated behavioral and emotional challenges? Setting my skepticism aside, I went along with the preparations.

A professional production company volunteered their services and the grandmothers rehearsed diligently with the newly discovered performers. What had originally started as a small talent show for the children became a major production for the entire village. Every child had an oh-so-important part and even the Children’s Services staff played the part of fairies. Before we knew it they had all become the quirky cast of the not-so-ordinary “Jack and Jackie and the Bean Stalk.”

The grand performance opened on Mother’s Day to an audience of residents, staff, volunteers and some board members. You can imagine their surprise when one by one the children assumed their characters and nervously recited their lines. The “munchkins” played by Brianna, Ralph and Angel had the crowd roaring with laughter. The role of “Mother” went to Joanna, who on a daily basis tries to get away with not doing her homework, but that evening she knew every line by heart and played the character beautifully.

Morgana the evil witch, played by Yadira, chased the entire cast off the stage and had them running through the audience! All I could do was laugh and cheer. I felt an amazing sense of pride watching the children perform and actually have fun with it.

I’m sure every mother in the room felt as I did, but for me it was extra special because even though the children are not mine, they are with us for a purpose and that purpose was quite evident in all of their faces. Cocoons opened that night and out came the most marvelous butterflies! I was then and I am now every day privileged to be able to witness this amazing transformation.