Coming Back to Henry Street: Marilyn Finds Support for Herself and Her Daughter
By Henry Street Settlement
Marilyn Peña has always been there for everyone else, but when it came to herself, she had little support. Her job—working with elders and children with autism—took a lot of energy, and when she came home to nurture her artistic and energetic eight-year-old daughter, she was stuck for answers and felt alone.
“I was pouring myself into my work, but I felt almost guilty taking care of myself,” Marilyn says. “I was so by myself.”
Marilyn learned about Henry Street’s Parent Center and was encouraged to find that the organization where she had found her first job could provide support again. “I was always interested in childhood development, and I love that Henry Street gave me this opportunity,” she says.
Coming back to Henry Street was a full-circle moment—her time as a camp counselor at P.S. 134 through the Summer Youth Employment Program had been a steppingstone for her career. She also took GED classes at Henry Street and passed the test more than 15 years ago.
Marilyn came to the Parent Center seeking help because her daughter, Carly, was having trouble expressing herself and was getting frustrated in social situations. Going to the park was a challenge; Carly had to learn how to initiate play with other children, take turns, and respond appropriately if they didn’t want to play with her.
“Giving her tools to be independent in the park was important so that I, as the mom, wasn’t always managing all of it. Sometimes people don’t want to play you, but it’s how you receive it: ‘Maybe not today but another day.’”
The Parent Center provides busy parents like Marilyn with the chance to meet over the phone, on Zoom, or in person. In addition to receiving individual support program, Marilyn and Carly have come to monthly activity nights, where families can watch a movie, have snacks, work on crafts, and come together as a community.
“The Parent Center has really made a difference in my life.”
Social worker Annie Mudick started by giving Carly toys to help her talk about her feelings. They used the movie Inside Out to talk about emotions like anxiety, embarrassment, and anger and associate colors with emotions. Annie worked with Carly on taking turns and having a conversation. She also gave Marilyn fresh ideas for activities to do at home with her daughter. Carly started to play chess, which continued to help her put words to her thoughts and feelings. “We had never had a social worker or a family therapist. I never thought about social work and what it has to offer.”
Marilyn also needed advice on how to raise a child of Carly’s age in the internet world. With two older children in their early 20s, she says parenting now comes with challenges that are very different from those she faced in the 2000s. “We’ve opened up our lives to the virtual world and navigate things like school on Zoom, YouTube, and cyberbullying,” Marilyn says. “These are things I really got to talk through with Annie.”
Annie also worked on boosting Marilyn’s self-esteem, coaching her on how to meet her goal of taking some time off work without fear that she would never find another job. She encouraged Marilyn to join a book group and to find time to crochet, which she loves, through Henry Street’s Jobs Plus program. Marilyn and Carly have also come to food giveaways and are looking forward to Henry Street’s summer community events.
By working with Annie and The Parent Center, Marilyn has made strides on her goals and found a place of calm as a mom. “When it gets overwhelming, you just take it pace by pace. The Parent Center helped me be more grounded––I’ve finally learned how to take time for myself.”
Click here to learn more about The Parent Center.
