There are 11 boys here at Udayan Ghar VII ranging in age from 5 to 12 and there are not very many dull moments around here. Overall, they are actually pretty good boys. A bit rough around the edges and a bit lacking in verbal communication skills (they are boys after all), but parts of their past have led to some surprising maturity in different areas...
However, with this many boys things are usually pretty hectic. Whether it’s getting ready for school and making sure the right backpack gets with the right books and the right owner who needs to be wearing the right socks kind of thing or just making sure that everybody got some food at each meal, there are just lots of things going on at the same time.
It’s all an exercise in entropy really... Everything is kinda measured on the degree of disorder in the system. Some days have more measuring than others and some days are just flat out anarchy.
And every once in a while there are time like tonight... We came in from playing cricket, football (soccer) and frisbee in the street and park and all sat in the dining area for a snack and it was incredible; no yelling, no crying, not even anything goofy. Just 11 boys, 2 caretakers and 2 sweaty and exhausted volunteers all laughing, talking and still... magical.
...until the glass of milk got spilled, a fight broke out over the last few crackers, and anarchy reigned again...
I have had lots of those moments in my life. I gotta admit, as far as families go I think I came out pretty far ahead of the curve. But for these boys, I’m pretty sure that moments like this have not been the norm or even the exception for much of their lives to date. But this is why Udayan does Homes, for moments like tonight...
Sounds a lot like a PDA Village. Also sounds like you've got a case of the daddys....
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