Zahra is a single mother to a beautiful 11-month-old boy named Arthur. She loves watching him grow and explore the ever-expanding world around him. Even at less than a year old, his fascination with books shows the bright young man budding inside of him. But raising a child alone is exhausting, and sometimes Arthur’s excitement with the world around him can make a proper sleep routine hard to nail down. Especially with him currently teething, Zahra found herself increasingly burned out. She was struggling to get enough sleep herself and began to feel depressed. “Having a young child can feel almost isolating. I basically spend my whole day taking care of him and there isn’t much time to do anything else,” explains Zhara. 

One night when Zahra was scrolling through her phone looking for programs or resources available to help her, she came across VHA’s Connected Families: Parenting Support program and it sounded exactly like the support she needed. The program brings hands-on help into our clients’ homes, bringing calm and compassionate energy into what can often be a stressful situation. Eagerly Zahra called the number on her screen and left a message asking to be connected with someone who could tell her more. 

Shortly after this, Zahra was connected with Mary Jane, one of VHA’s home care providers working in the program. Starting in December and continuing for the next three months, Mary Jane visited Zahra twice a week for three-hour blocks of time. “Three hours doesn’t sound like a lot, but you’d be amazed what you can do with it,” explains Zahra. “While Mary Jane was with Arthur, I could go get the grocery shopping done, go to my physiotherapy appointments or even just take a rest.”  And Arthur warmed up to Mary Jane almost immediately. Meeting a new person while mom leaves can be a little concerning for young children who are so attached to their mom. Thankfully, Mary Jane’s calming and engaging presence soon put him at ease so, by the time their second visit rolled around, Arthur was excited to see her walk back through the door. 

With Mary Jane’s help, Zahra now had the time she needed to take a step back and provide herself with the self-care she needed with full confidence that Arthur was in excellent hands. 

“I love babies,” shares Mary Jane. “Back when I lived in the Philippines, I was a nurse and sometimes I cared for young children. As a PSW at VHA, I get to visit with beautiful children, like Arthur, where I can read and play with them, feed them or whatever else they need.” Mary Jane knows that happy babies mean better rested parents and she loves being able to help deliver that. 

When Mary Jane’s time visiting Arthur came to an end, the impact she made during such a critical time continued. “Mary Jane represents the very best of what home care can offer families,” tells Zahra. “Her professionalism, reliability, warmth, and natural ability with children made a meaningful difference for both myself and my son.” 

With the support of the Connected Families: Parenting Support program, families across the Greater Toronto Area, like Zahra and Arthur, receive the loving support they need to help ensure that both parent and child thrive. Learn more about the program here.