Thirty-three-year-old Mabel* and her husband were teens when they had their daughter Anita, who is now fifteen. For ten years, they tried to become pregnant again and were losing hope. Then, unexpectedly, Mabel discovered she was pregnant and gave birth to a son, Saul. Shortly thereafter, the couple welcomed another daughter, Tina.
A church carnival changed everything. While there, Mabel noticed a flyer about SGA Youth & Family Services and learned that there were neighborhood programs designed to help families like hers. She soon enrolled her two youngest children in SGA’s Early Head Start program. When Saul was a year and a half, he showed signs of developmental delay in his speech and often became frustrated because he couldn’t express himself. One of SGA’s Parent Educators referred the family to a speech specialist, a service Mabel hadn’t known existed.
Six months of therapy made all the difference. Saul, now a talkative four-year-old, is thriving in Head Start and preparing for kindergarten. Tina, now three years old, is also excelling. Mabel proudly describes her as a quick learner who does everything on her own, including potty-training. Both children primarily speak Spanish and are now picking up English as well.
When she was younger, Mabel helped her father run his auto glass company. She and her husband share the dream of one day opening a business of their own. For now, though, she’s focused on being a full-time mom, cherishing the early years and not wanting to miss milestones like her children’s first steps. Her main goal is to help them succeed and reach their full potential.
Her confidence has grown tremendously in recent years. Encouraged by Tina’s teacher, Mabel ran for and was elected Vice Chair of a Parent Committee for a local organization, where she helps conduct interviews for administrative and special education positions. Previously, she served as Secretary. Although she initially hesitated because English is her second language, she told herself, “I got this, I have to get this.” Now she says her public speaking skills have improved and she’s prouder than ever of her accomplishments.
Grateful for the support she’s received, Mabel continues to attend SGA’s socializations, trainings, and meetings. “If my family wasn’t involved with SGA, I’d be under a lot more stress. I wouldn’t be able to teach my children strategies and they wouldn’t be as advanced as they are now.”
Reflecting on her journey, she adds, “I’ve become a better parent and am so much more open minded than before. If you don’t learn, your kids will stay stagnant. But now they have so many more options to succeed in life. SGA is opening up new doors for us.”
*Name changed to protect privacy