Volunteers provide new parents with peace of mind and support

In God start på lieft, volunteers support new parents of young children in vulnerable life situations. They provide sparring and support so that the parents can create a calm everyday life for the child and find security in the parenting role.

For about six months, Birgitte has been working with a single mother who has a one-year-old boy. Every Wednesday after work, Birgitte cycles out to the family and helps for a couple of hours. The only thing that is fixed is the day they meet – what the hours will offer depends on what the mother needs that day.

– Sometimes I distract the boy for two hours so she can vacuum or pay bills. Other times she needs to talk to me to get rid of some of the things that she finds difficult. Because they require a lot of such small sizes, so sometimes she also asks if I have any good tips, says Birgitte and continues:

– It's about giving her two hours of air, which can be hard to find when you have a one-year-old hanging on your hip who demands attention all the time. It's about giving her the feeling that she has someone to whom she can say all the things that you might otherwise hold back when you're a single mother.

Wants to break with the glossy image of the mother role

 When Birgitte volunteered, she imagined that the citizens she would help would be very vulnerable. But her citizen is well-educated and employed – this has confirmed to her that the role of mother can surprise everyone.

She finds that this is related to the fact that it is difficult to live up to the perfect image of mothers, which social media, among other things, helps to create. Therefore, she thinks it is important to break with the glossy image of the mother role and give her citizens the belief that what they are doing is right, even if it is not what you see on Instagram.

– It's important to say: My daughter has also eaten rye bread for dinner several times because I couldn't handle anything. We are quite ordinary people, so throw away that glossy image – no one can live up to that anyway. People from all classes can find it difficult, says Birgitte.

Helping families on the right track

When Birgitte drives home again, it's with a clear conscience. She knows that her resident has gained a little more energy in everyday life and has managed the things she needed to do.

– I know from myself, even though my daughter was 12, that I needed someone to come and sit with my daughter while I cooked for the next few days. So I know that I have given her attention, and I experience that she has regained her courage and strength when I walk again, says Birgitte.

As a volunteer in Good Start in Life, you commit to a family for six months at a time. As you approach the end, the volunteer assesses the family's situation together with the volunteer leader.

According to Birgitte, in some cases it makes sense to continue with the family because the volunteer assesses that the family still needs to be helped on the right path. Other times, an overview and structure are established after six months, so the volunteer can help a new family.

If you are considering becoming a volunteer at Good Start in Life, the message from Birgitte is clear:

– You just have to throw yourself into it and try, because there are some people who think it's absolutely fantastic that you can just come and be their breathing space for a while. Of course you use yourself, but you also feel happy knowing that you have helped another person.