Creative Inspirations Stories
Often parents and other adults feel caught inside impossible situations with children and teenagers. They may need a creative and positive adult they can trust who is in an objective position to bring in the inspiration of a creative hobby of interest for the young person. I believe problems can be prevented at their roots and the following happy responses speak for themselves.
Examples
Ann is fourteen and lives in a village. She often practised dancing to popular music, but on her own in her bedroom. Her Mum noticed an "'Creative Inspirations" ad in the local newspaper about creative interests for young people. She rang me to ask if she knew where Ann could join a popular dance group. Five minutes later, I rang her back with good news, a dance group could take Ann on and if she liked it, would work with the group for a performance at a local theatre. Ann does like it very much, her world has turned around and is very much focused upon what she loves so much, in her spare time.
I noticed another ad in the local newspaper for a theatre for children. Rona is ten years old and like Ann spent so much time on her own in her bedroom, dressing up and acting. Her Gran was thrilled to hear news of the theatre and has been the positive energies behind Rona getting herself a place sorted out for the theatre in January. Rona no longer feels isolated.
Tara is twelve and has a powerful singing voice, yet she had to be reminded of her qualities as I had heard her two years ago in a church at Christmas time. Tara does not feel popular, but when I said I was looking out for somewhere for a chance for Tara to sing, Tara's eyes and face beamed happily. She prefers popular singing and so a careful search is going on for the right group for her to be with, and to really enjoy singing.
Deborah is an English teacher, who is also teaching Flamenco dancing. She is delighted with the idea of "Creative Inspirations". She loves to be with children in a creative space. She is also a talented artist and looks forward to running children's workshops in very small groups.
I am using a very simple card with my name and simple description of what I am doing with young people, encouraging a creative interest. I showed it to a lady who served my coffee in a cafe and asked if she could put it on the staff notice board. She read it and instantly said, "You haven't anything for a hyperactive nine year-old do you? She just won't stay still!" She heard my confidence when I said, "All you need to do is to get her to choose a creative interest she would really love." She said, "She wants to dance! But I'm so busy. . ." She broke off, then said, "I'll book her in!" I left feeling she would.
I have been endeavouring to find a natural way to bring this idea to a five yearold who lives with difficult attitudes about her. Whilst giving support to a mum in another community I discovered she knows the little girl well and her parents extremely well. I shall slowly introduce the idea through this family friend.
After visiting Ann's wonderful dance performance at the Playhouse Theatre in Oxford, on my way home I went to sit beside a log fire at a local inn. There were a group of parents gathered with their children. One small girl was dancing to the background music and I mentioned to her Mum where I had been and that I could see her daughter had a flair for dancing. "I've been meaning to find a class for her, she loves it!" Her Mum said. The family are new to the area and a few days later I dropped information of local dance groups through their letterbox.
Sarah
Sarah was fifteen and in trouble with the police for burglary and in trouble at school in the inner city. She lived in a children's home. When I called I to see her with the head teacher, Sarah said to me, "I'll be in Holloway Prison with my sister in a year's time if I'm not careful." I asked her what she had always longed to take up. She instantly said: "Hairdressing, but it's no good, I don't want to take exams, so I won't be able to do it."
The head teacher allowed Sarah to come out of the classroom for two days a week to work alongside Tina, a friend of mine who ran her own hairdressing business, visiting people in their homes. Tina said to me, "I Know the people not to take Sarah to!" After a year, Tina managed to support Sarah to get work in a salon. After two years there, Sarah qualified as a hairdresser. Tina also helped Sarah get city council accommodation after she left the children's home. Sarah will always remember that Tina really believed in her.
It is my experience, that once young people have had these positive experiences, they do the same for people younger than them. The focus on hairdressing in Tina's close company allowed Sarah to find a life that was personal and meaningful. Nothing had felt personal before.
If you find these stories helpful for your relationships with young people, we would love to hear from you.