During some of my most tumultuous adolescent years- when all of life was extreme, when friends were untrustworthy, and when I was still taller than all of the cute boys- a very specific safe place comes to mind. Believe it or not, it was at the top bunk of my bunk bed. Every night my dad would come into my room to talk with me, pray with me, and tuck me in. I would lie there and drone on about life, friends and boys, while he would sit on my black and white beanbag chair and simply just listen. I even remember working myself up into tears several times as I battled the typical low self-esteem of a teenager. And every time I would speak negative thoughts about myself, he would combat them with the wonderful things that he thought about me. At the end of the day- when I still didn’t feel pretty enough, cool enough, or smart enough- I always knew that I was popular with my dad. I can’t think of any safer place.
In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, “Safety” comes second. He determined that an individual can’t even begin to self actualize- contribute to society, achieve goals, feel confident- until they know that they are safe. In my years at the Homework House, I have come to understand firsthand that food and shelter are not what determines a child’s safety. But, why as a society, do we tend to look at the exterior and automatically make assumptions about their internal well-being? How many of our children look like they have it all together and yet lack safe places in their lives. How, then, can we expect them to do well in school, overcome the odds, or believe in themselves? The Homework House is committed to providing a safe place for children in need of one and we realize for some of the children we serve it may be their only safe place. We want to hear from you about who or where your safe places were growing up! Please join us in this discussion!
-Abigail Gaines, Executive Director
Karen Rouggly said,
September 27, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
My safe place was with my grandma! She was always there for me with open arms, and still is to this day!
Samuel Martinez said,
September 28, 2007 @ 12:32 am
With me it was not so much a safe place as a safe person. Previous comments emphasize my view. Since home was not a safe plalce I found safety in the church I attended as a boy and later as a teenager. It was there where people treated me like I was somebody. God bless those people. I did not have to do anything to gain their love or respect.
Stuart Aldrich said,
September 28, 2007 @ 4:34 am
My safe place when I was in grade school was always the playground; it was truly my sanctuary. The class room was not an easy place for me and because I was always the biggest kid by a long shot my short comings there were only magnified. What’s funny about this is that because of the playground I loved school; I got there early and stayed late; where the classroom was sometimes confusing the playground always made sense. It was on the playground I learned how to get along, how to be part of a team, how to manage, take responsibility and how to lead; and along the way something else kind of funny happened; the classroom stop being so confusing.
What I love about the Homework House is that for so many kids it like what the playground was for me; a safe place, a sanctuary, that place where things are just a little less confusing.
Kerry Freeman said,
September 28, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
A sense of safety and belonging was a rare commodity as the daughter of an Air Force officer on the fast track. As the perpetual new kid on the block and at school, the only constancy in my first eighteen years was my grandparents’ home. There they welcomed
me with open hearts, there I didn’t need to prove myself worthy of their esteem and love, there I had roots, a history and a future. They modeled Christ’s unconditional love and acceptance and gave me the confidence to face my forever challenging and changing environment. Safety is feeling welcomed and valued – in a truly welcoming atmosphere
our potential can shine through – sounds a little bit like what Homework House is all
about doesn’t it?