YMCA of Columbia-Willamette Family Resource Center Testimonials

Testimonials
Please read these personal testimonies and see what people are saying about the YMCA Family Resource Center.

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Parenting Classes Give Mother Hope
My husband and I are parents of four children. Their ages range from two years to nine years. Our second to oldest child, who is 8 years old, has been our biggest challenge. We started to seek help for him (and us) before he turned two. He was delayed in speaking. He had small and large motor skills delayed. He had some sensory issues. But the biggest issue, by far, was the tantrums. Sometimes they would last for over three hours. We started by taking him to his pediatrician. He recommended us to a behavioral specialist. And from then on he has been to speech therapy, occupational therapy, a psychiatrist, a physiologist and a nutritionist. We also had him involved in the early intervention through the school district. We took him wherever we could to try to get help. My sister referred us to the YMCA Family Resource Center Parenting Class, who said it was wonderful. My husband and I decided to give it a try. After 11 weeks of this class, I must tell you, it was without a doubt the most informative, useful information that we have ever received. The classes have taught us so much and it makes sense. Sara and Martha were so helpful and willing to go above and beyond to help us. We also have benefited in having the support of the other people in the class. I can honestly say, that tools we have been given in this class will enable us to be better parents and have a better relationship with our children. I think any parent needs to take this class. They should make it mandatory. I don't regret any medical help we have received for our son in the past because some of it he needed to develop properly. But I do wish that we had known about this class sooner. Things are not perfect in our house. They probably won't ever be, but things are a lot better then they were 11 weeks ago. (Anonymous)

New Clothes
Read a Letter From Claire, a little girl who was very excited to get her new clothes.

Holiday Generosity From the YMCA
I would like to express my deepest heartfelt gratitude to your organization for helping make what was surely going to be a very bleak and sad holiday season for my family, a time of renewed hope and belief that yes, there is a light at the end of what seemed like an endless tunnel of despair and sadness! My mother, whom I was very close to, passed away from cancer around Thanksgiving. My sister and I spent many long, sleepless nights caring for our mother, never really thinking that we were undertaking a 24/7 job, only knowing in our hearts that we had to do what had to be done. I couldn't work and care for my mom and the same time, so after she passed away I found myself unemployed and homeless because her house, which my two young children and I lived, had to be sold ASAP to settle her estate. I was facing some very overwhelming circumstances, and to magnify the hopelessness of the situation was the holiday season soon in coming, where you couldn't escape from the whole "Family ... Home For the Holidays" or "What do you want for Christmas?" scenario. This was hard in dealing with two small children who didn't quite understand what was going on, and not really old enough to comprehend why Grandma wasn't home anymore, or why we didn't have a Christmas tree or presents like everyone else. It was shaping up to be a very depressing and grief-filled holiday season for myself and a disappointing and confusing Christmas for my kids. But, and this is the great part of the story, at around 9:00 p.m. on the Thursday before Christmas, I received a call. The caller told me that our family's name had been submitted by the Forest Grove School District and YMCA to be "adopted" by the local Rotary club and some local merchants to receive funds for gifts and food! I was speechless and overcome with joy that my family would have a wonderful Christmas after all ... But to be truly honest, I felt there was no amount of money that could equal the gift I felt in my heart, the gift of knowing that there are people out there in this world who just want to help their fellow human beings feel a little bit happier and more hopeful, and that they are not alone, and that there is a bright, warm, light waiting at the end of the tunnel! (Kelly)