- I have no one else to leave them with,
- I don't want to lose sight of them,
- I don't trust my mother-in-law,
- I don't have to figure out what to do with them,
- or what to feed them,
- I work, and on Sundays I want them with me,
- they can't choose for themselves yet!
- they see the world in color,
- they feel free to express themselves,
- they feel loved,
- they discover the joy of community,
- they learn what it means to welcome others,
- their fragility becomes their strength,
- they grow alongside my friends,
- our family grows in harmony,
- one day they'll be free to choose!
In my community, eight children were born in three years. The friends and families who truly proved their friendship were the young people who carried us forward literally carrying our children in their arms—and carried us, too.
That said, a conflict of interests can emerge when there are too many children and too many young people in the same space.
We are at Fede e Luce for the young people. We must remember that. Sometimes it's easier and more appealing to pick up a child and play than to sit with a young person, talk with a parent, or organize an activity.
Summer camps with children present the same challenge: we must always find the right balance between the needs and rhythms of the children and those of the young people, the friends, and the parents. New mothers and fathers especially—we know this—can lose their objectivity. It is necessary that the different needs remain clear and that everyone understands them, so that all of us can respond to each person's need to be heard and valued.
— Alessandra Zezza, 2003