塘口 寛子さん（東京都在住）
もともと、虐待のニュースが報道されるたび、心が痛み、自然に涙があふれていました。弱い立場の子どもを大人が虐待する行為そのものが許せない、と思う気持ちと、そこまで追い込まれている状況を想像すると、本当に切なく、ただただ涙がいつも流れていました。そんなとき、たまたま震災の子供たちのインタビューを聴きました。大変な状況の中、親を気遣う子ども達の姿がありました。助けになりたい、素直にそう思いました。自分の子育ての悩みもないわけではなかったの
で、一度子どもの「心」を学んでみようと、カルチャーセンターに通い勉強を始めました。
勉強を通して、子どもにとって、いや大人にとっても、「触れ合う」ことがとても大切だということを学びました。目からうろこでした。だって、人に触れること、あまり好きじゃなかったから。しかし、その後、私自身も、我が子をギュッと抱きしめる機会を増やしてみたら、「触れ合う」大切さを実感できたのです。不思議な感覚でした。そんな時、偶然手にした本の中に「ぐるーん」のことが書かれていました。「抱っこ」で子ども達の心に寄り添おうとしているぐるーんの想いに共感。サポーターに登録しました。そして、たまたまご縁があって、乳児院をご紹介いただくことになりました。これもきっと縁だと思っています。
将来的には、子どもの心によりそって、親の心によりそって、一つの家庭がもとの暖かさ、穏やかさを取り戻せるように、細々と活動できればなぁと願っています。今は、まず私にできることを、自分の直感に正直に、そして、無理なく自然体でやってみようと思っています。
For long, whenever I heard about news reports related to child-abuse cases, my heart used to ache and naturally I could not help but cry in tears. Tears just automatically filled me with painful sorrows just because I couldn't tolerate the act of abuses which took advantage of kids who are vulnerable and also when I thought of the circumstances with which adults were forced to get involved. By chance, in some TV interview program, I happened to have heard a news about children who were the survivors of 3-11-2012 catastrophe. Even under the difficult circumstances for themselves, it came to my mind that they worry about their own parents The moment I saw this,to be honest, I strongly felt and I wanted to extend my helping hands to all children per se. It may not be true if I say I didn't have any problem in rearing my own child, so I wanted to study some "Child's mind"matters, then I was determined to start to go to a culture center for the education.
Through the education, I learned that "Touch and feel" is very importnat not only for children, but also for adults by the same token. I was thrilled with it. To tell you the truth, I didn't like much about touching and feeling myself. Afterward, I tried to increase a number of "Touch & feel" cases with some comfortable extra contact with my own child, I truly realized the significant result of this "Touch and feel" That was a different kind of sense of wonder I could experience, but I can't explain it succinctly. With this thing and that, I came across "Activities of Gruun" in a book I happened to get. I felt that I certainly share the same life-value with Gruun who promotes "Dacco"(cuddling kids) in order to filfil the needs of those needy children.I hastened to register at Gruun as its supporter. In this particular occasion, I was happy that Gruun introduced me to one infant-facility. I truly take this a serendipitous encounter with Gruun.
In a long run, by touching and feeling the heart of children and adults each other, I wish I could engage in a small, but long-term activity plan to help each family restore the warmth/peace at home which was normal once before. Without forcing myself, for now, I would like to follow my intuition honestly just starting from things I can do one by one naturally and unforcedly.