Sunday, February 10, 2008
Seventh grader Aspen and empty nester Bonnie Wells have been making beautiful music together for 2.5 years.
That's when Wells sent her third, and youngest, child off to college and was approached that same month by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Inc. about volunteering.
"I heard about Big Brothers Big Sisters, found out it wasn't just somebody who could be like a sister, you could be quite a bit older," said Wells. "Obviously, I could never be Aspen's sister, probably couldn't be her mother either, but when I heard about it and knew that there were kids that were waiting to be matched, it seemed to me it made sense and was worth a try."
Video
VIDEO:
Volunteer organizations are recruiting baby boomers to contribute their energy and talents in the non-profit sector. Boomergirl.com managing editor Cathy Hamilton tells us how one woman became a big sister to a girl half the age of her own adult children.
Wells and Aspen get together once a week, for a couple of hours.
Sometimes, at Bonnie's house where Aspen can catch up on her homework or practice her piano. And other times, as sisters tend to do, they'll take in a little shopping.
"She's always good about my birthday," said Aspen. "With my birthday coming around, she'll say 'What do you like? What do you want?' And we'll go downtown and I'll say I like this or I like Hello Kitty, because I do."
Aspen has had college-age matches in the past, but she appreciates having a Big Sister with experience as a parent but the role of friend and mentor.
"Like I have friends at the school that I can tell stuff too and everything, but, then, I can come here and say, 'Bonnie, blah, blah, blah' and I can trust her to not say anything or ask me, you know, be all in my business, because it's just ... it's…I don't know how to explain that."
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.