My mom and dad were farmers.
My dad also had a creative side. He had the most amazing handwriting with flourishes and curls. He was an expert woodworker and a lovely storyteller. Spelling was not his forte, so he approached that, too, with great creativity.
My mom was an exceptional cook, and loved the precision of following a recipe. She was a good farmer. She was great at math, spelling, and memorization. I remember her learning the capitals of countries in Africa along with me. She was not fiercely creative.
She could, however, draw bunnies.
Only from the back, however. And, before you get too excited, they were a combination of three circles, two ovals, and six short straight lines, depicting whiskers that showed from the sides when looking at the back of the head. They were always charming.
I inherited my mom’s creativity. I can draw bunnies.
So, one day, when I had a chance to sit with Alice, a 12-year-old girl here at the Ranch, while she was doing artwork, that was the skill I brought to the party. Alice gave me a small canvas, a paintbrush, and paint pots and told me to “do your best.” Easy… out comes the bunny.
We sat there together. Alice was working on a block lettering of her name for the door of her room. I was earnest about my work, and Alice tried to be encouraging. She asked me how I learned to do bunnies, and I told her about my mom. She told me about hers. She told me her mom struggles with mental illness and sometimes doesn’t take her medications. She told me that she, her sister, and her two brothers each have different fathers. She told me she couldn’t remember which “guy” had sexually abused her. She told me that at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, "I'm going to work on my behaviors first, learn some coping skills, and then start working on the trauma.” (Yes, really her words. She knows the challenges that lie ahead.)
Alice finished her sign, and I finished my bunny. We cleaned up and went our separate ways. Sometimes now she comes into my office, flops down in one of my chairs, and simply sits. Sometimes she tells me what is frustrating that day. Sometimes she tells jokes. She is, after all, a 12-year-old kid.
Please keep all the children and staff at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in your prayers.
In His love,
Joy Ryan, President/CEO
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch
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