A mother brings heart into the home; she gives support, offers comfort, and provides care. Many youth who come to Ranch Ehrlo have lived without knowing the power of a mother’s love or miss it as they travel away from their homes for treatment.
For this reason, among many others, Ranch Ehrlo Society has put emphasis on the importance of having a mother figure in its homes. House mothers are hired to fill a need that they naturally provide. They are the rock of the ‘family’ and the foundation of the home.
House moms are essentially surrogate mothers. They are a shoulder to cry on in times of disappointment, a pat on the back in times of achievement, and a hand to hold in times of loneliness. They teach that love, respect, and care are given when they are received.
“Flo is my mom and I love her so much,” said Connor*, a boy living at Alex Guy House. “Everything she does – I appreciate it.”
For more than 12 years, Florence (Flo) Gabriel has been the pillar of strength and symbol of love for children who have come through the door of Alex Guy House on Buckland campus. She forms a special bond with each child, learning about the stories of their past, the days of their present, and their hopes for the future.
“She is their mom. It isn’t just a job for Flo,” said Shantelle Petersen, who worked alongside Flo for several years. “Flo treats the kids like they’re her own—she would do anything for them.”
The kids form a special connection and relationship with their house moms.
The power of their words is often stronger than they realize. Shouting and yelling isn’t necessary because kids hear the calm words that come from a place of love and concern.
Devin*, a young boy living at Matheson House in Prince Albert, carried the comments made by his house mother close to heart.
“Often in the mornings Devin will say ‘I like you, do you like me?’ And I tell him yes, that he is a very likeable child but I don’t like his poor actions or decisions,” his house mom Ingrid Sinoski explained.
The young boy realized the disapproval and disappointment that he caused his house mom, and without saying a word left a heartfelt note on the fridge for her the next morning.
“Good Morning Ingrid I'll settle down! Thanks for being my house mom. Love You.”
“The note was pretty powerful,” said Kevin Mugford, director of residential services (north). “He must have internalized her comments.”
“When I saw the note I was quite impressed,” said Ingrid. “I appreciated that he thought about our conversation.”
“Sometimes the kids just surprise me,” she continued. “I think they appreciate that I’m here and that I understand them.”
*names has been changed to protect the identity of the youth
