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I’ve lived in this neighbourhood for over 25 years. I first started getting involved with Better Beginnings probably when it started, when it first got going because my Mom had went and applied for a job and got it, and she started telling me all about it and I thought, ‘Oh cool, they have this, they have that, I’m going to go check it out.’

I think it has made a lot of changes in the community. Before Better Beginnings, there was a lot of gang-related stuff and there was even a few shootings and some stabbings, and a lot of dope, and battered women, and you know stuff like that. It was a really bad neighbourhood for a really long time and when Better Beginnings came it still was bad, but not as bad, and it started to clean up a bit. Mostly because a lot of people didn't know what Better Beginnings was and they have Family Visitors out there and they have great outreach people that go around telling everybody what Better Beginnings is all about. That's how all the people got involved with Better Beginnings. Had they not gone out and done that, I don’t think any of the people would have involved themselves to go. But I think it has cleaned up quite a bit since Better Beginnings came along. Well, it's still out there but not as much.

I think the community is safer because now people know that there are people they can call if there is a problem, and not necessarily calling the cops every time something happens. A lot of that was a problem because people were always calling the cops. Now they’re calling Better Beginnings and seeing if they can straighten it out through there first and then Better Beginnings and that person will deal with it through the police or counselling or whatever the case may be. Which is better because I mean you don't want cops in the neighbourhood all the time.

With Better Beginnings, I go and I help out the odd time in the Administrative Assistant’s office and I am part of the Steering Committee and a project that is on the go in Toronto. And I go to the Playgroup, mostly with my oldest son because he was the first one when I was living in the Oaks. Not so much my other son because he pretty well went right into {Heatherington} Nursery School. He likes it. My oldest son is six and the other is three.

I've had fun at doing what I have done with Better Beginnings and I have met a lot of new people and I've gotten a lot of support from certain people when things haven't been that great. And I know that they appreciate my help, my involvement. Even though I feel like I don't do much because I am a shy person to begin with and I don't think I make a difference at whatever I do. I know I shouldn't feel that way but, I guess maybe I don't hear it enough to really feel it. But I still go and I still do stuff because I enjoy doing it and it makes me feel happy. And the Project Coordinator, or whoever I am doing stuff for is always saying, ‘Oh thanks a lot, we really appreciate it and this stuff is great and we need more people like you’ and stuff like that. And hearing it makes you feel quite good. I don't have to hear it all the time, I know Better Beginnings is quite happy with what I do, but it's good to hear it. Maybe I have really made a difference, because you know a lot of times you question yourself like, ‘I’ve been helping her all this time, and am I really doing any good to the community? Or Better Beginnings?’ And then when you hear someone say that she has, then it gives you all the more power to get involved.

I think I am a little more confident at some of the things that I do now and my self-esteem has went up a bit too; not necessarily my whole life, like my family and everything else. I think mostly at Better Beginnings, my self-esteem went up. I don't feel my self-esteem goes up when I am at home, but when I am out working or if I am out helping somebody else or whatever, I am more myself. It does increase your self-esteem for people to value what we do. You don't normally get that from little kids with everyday just routine stuff. It's also good to know when you’re doing something right.

I’m sure Better Beginnings has made a difference for the people who have Family Visitors come into their home. Talking or taking them shopping or sitting down and having a coffee or whatever the case may be, I think that that makes the family happy that they have someone to talk to other than a family member. Because you know, sometimes, that’s what you need, you need an extra person to talk to. And I know that a lot of people have problems with fighting, or beating and drugs and stuff like that and just having a Family Visitor come and talk it out with you, you may feel like your situation isn't that bad. But when you don't have anybody to talk to, it's just like, ‘Oh God, I can't do this!’

The Family Visitors give great support for the families that they visit. I did have a Family Visitor, a while back, but I just said, ‘Okay, I really don't need a Family Visitor, like our family life is okay’, and I just figured maybe you should put your efforts on someone who is worse off than what I am. It was good to have a Family Visitor, but I just found that I didn't have a lot of problems at that time. It was nice to have her come and talk or whatever about Better Beginnings or discuss what is happening here. I think I had her for maybe a year and a half. But I know now that there’s problems, but I just don't like talking about my problems. I know that’s what she’s there for, to express yourself and stuff like that but I am a hard person to express how I feel and sometimes I'll deal with it myself.

Playgroup was good because it gave my son a chance to learn and mingle with new kids and it also gave me the chance to meet with other parents and exchange different ideas. I thought that Playgroup was quite good because he was my first child so he needed other kids to play with. I think it made a difference in his life by preparing him to go to Nursery School and school. I think he is a better person because he shares and he likes playing with kids. I brought him every day until he started Nursery School. He never wanted to leave!

Both my sons love Nursery School too, they get to go on all kinds of trips, they get to do paintings and learn a lot and they like the cards that they make. My son had made a Mother’s Day card that they made at school and it's nice to get stuff like that. At home, I don't have craft material to do that sort of stuff and I think I should find the time and do some craft things with them because they seem to both enjoy doing that. And when it's done, they give it to you and they are so happy that they have done something pretty and nice and they make Mommy feel good. He likes that and he smiles and blushes at me, he’s so proud! It's a whole new experience going from being at home to going to Nursery School every day. It's a nice break for me, I can go do my things in the morning, shopping or just go over and have a coffee with somebody. I can live for two hours, do my own thing!

Better Beginnings helped out a lot, like they have the clothing bank in the basement. A lot of time I would go help them put the stuff away and you’re allowed to take whatever you want and the odd time you can bring back whatever isn’t good for your kid anymore. I got some stuff for the kids and it doesn't cost anything. It saves you money because it's free and you don't have to go out and buy it in the store. It’s great for a lot of families that aren’t so well off financially, it helps out and it does make a difference!

They also have the Toy Lending, and it's free as well. You pick a toy for your child and it's like a new toy for a month for the child! We haven't got the money to go out and buy these nice expensive toys that the Toy Lending usually has. And the Steering Committee too has helped me. I don't talk a lot at the meetings but I do sit there and listen and I think it has actually educated me. I feel good that I feel part of Better Beginnings and people feel that I do make a difference for being there. That helps a lot.

And the bus helps too, they always have different trips. So you’re not stressed about taking an OC {Transpo} bus and getting your kid off the bus. And that's free as well, it costs a lot and a lot of people don't have cars. You know so it's nice that they have the bus and people take advantage of it whenever there is activities or events instead of sitting at home. If I were to use the bus to go downtown to get a snowsuit or whatever, I won’t feel obligated to do this other thing for them in return. Like I don't feel that I’m obligated to do things for Better Beginnings because they have done things for me. I just do it because I want to do it and I enjoy doing it, and I feel appreciated for doing it.

They have made a difference for my family and also for the neighbourhood. I am really glad that they got the funding to stay around because if they didn't, I think the trend would probably have gone back to the way it was before Better Beginnings even started. I don't find that Heatherington is that bad, like, it’s bad, but it’s not really really bad. Better Beginnings is giving us hope for our little ones, not to grow up like our bigger ones have. Because the bigger ones that have lived here a long long time didn't have that before, where they could involve them in stuff. So they have helped that way.