Big & Little Networking

October 6, 2011


Remember the NetworkingSnafu from a few months ago, the meeting at the BBBS office that we attended not knowing it had been canceled? Our Match Support Specialist invited us to attend another one (one that had not been canceled without our knowing) and that’s just what we did tonight. We met with eight other matches at a meeting that was led by a BBBS staff person. When we arrived, we signed in and L made us our name tags. We did introductions around the room; the Bigs said their name, how long they have been matched with their Little, and what they do when they’re not being a Big. The Littles stated their name, their school, their grade, and what they are going to do when they graduate from high school. Then we went around the room and had to tell what our most fun activity together has been. Since we had been matched the longest of everybody in the room, we had a lot more activities to choose from, but that also made it harder to choose. L picked Hiking right off the bat. But then I said, what about the Kidscape Productions and she said, “yeah, yeah, yeah!!!” So we shared both. After our time together, the staff split us up and the Littles went out to do Little stuff, while us Bigs stayed in the conference room to talk Big stuff!

The Littles played games, made Thank You’s for their Bigs, and hung out in the BBBS reading room. They even got to pick out a book or two to bring home with them. Us Bigs talked about what it’s been like so far being a Big, what has been our biggest surprise, how have our activities fostered any of the 40 Developmental Assets for Children, and we also ran through scenarios of what we would do in certain situations.

Although L and I didn’t get to spend too much time together during this adventure, I think it was beneficial for both of us. I really enjoyed being in a room with several other Bigs sharing ideas and experiences. I hope to have this opportunity again.

Until our next adventure . . .