Kim’s Story
A Small Victory
By Martha Ruuti, Child Care Worker

Her name is “Kim.” When she came to us at Lee & Beulah Moor Children’s Home, she was tiny, frail, and only six years old. She had just moved into another home, this time with five other children. One Sunday, we took all the girls to the Lower Valley Farm to see the animals and have a little fun.

To Kim this translated into fear, fear, and more fear. The animals terrified her. She was in tears, crying at the kitten, the ducks, dogs, and sheep. Most were bigger than she was.

We gently encouraged her to touch the animals, but she would not give up her tight grip of my legs. Finally, a tiny bit of movement. A small step. A quick touch to the dog’s back. A long stroke. The fear began to melt away. The next thing I knew, she was running and playing with the ducks, the sheep, and the dogs. She was all smiles, just having fun.

Two weeks passed and it was time for another visit to the farm, this time with children from another cottage. This time, Kim took the lead, telling a seven-year-old boy exactly how to treat the animals: gentle and strong.