Our stories

Jessica is a mum in custody who has previously been supported by SHINE for Kids through our Bringing Up Great Kids parenting program and Storytime sessions for her younger children.

She shared how much her younger children loved receiving their personalised picture books, and how exciting it was for them to have something special from her.

When she approached our team recently, Jessica spoke about her son, who is in his early teens, and how their relationship had become more distant over time.

While she recognised that this can be a normal part of adolescence, she wanted to do something special to let him know she was thinking of him. So, our team organised a Storytime session with a twist: she would rap a poem for him.

Jessica chose a poem called For My Son and, to make it more engaging, told our team she wanted to perform it in a rap style. She laughed as she imagined how amused her son would be when he heard it.

“The experience allowed her to create a meaningful and memorable message that reflected both her love and her sense of humour,” said our team.

“Throughout the session, she was smiling and laughing. She joked that he would probably find the poem ‘cringe’, but laughed at the thought that he would still recognise her as the fun and funny mum he had always known.

“The recording allowed her personality and sense of humour to shine through, making the message even more personal.”

The session was a joy for everyone involved, with contagious smiles and an uplifting atmosphere.

“While Storytime can often be an emotional program for participants, it was refreshing to see this mum embrace the experience with such joy and enthusiasm,” said our team.

“Storytime is a program that is consistently well received, but it is especially rewarding to witness the genuine gratitude participants express.”

*Names and images have been changed to protect participant privacy.