this school year i am volunteering through americorps with something called project grow. this is an initiative to work with at-risk and under-privileged preschoolers to develop social and literacy skills in an attempt to catch them up to their peers and to help them be ready for kindergarten. each volunteer is paired with one individual child, but also assists in a classroom with about 20 cutie patooties.

here are a few pictures of my “little buddy”, arika. she has snuggled her way into my heart big time.

and, while so far this year i’ve helped her sort out her colors, learn which letters make up her name and be able to recognize that “cat” rhymes with “fat”, i truly think i have more to learn from her than could ever be possible in the reverse order.