Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Emmalyn watches her leave, only to turn back to me with a confused look on her face once she's gone.
"She doesn't trust easily," I explain.
"Been there, done that," Emmalyn says with a sigh.
"Same," I say, feeling like I could confide in this woman and trust that she would carry my secrets to her grave. "What's the plan for the evening, and how can I help?"
"Any chance you have a full month's worth of recipes and meal plans for breakfast and lunch for four women and two kids?"
"The fastest way to get them to leave this place would be to put me in charge of cooking," I say with a laugh.
Emmalyn grins back at me. "Didn't hurt to ask."
"I heard about Andrea."
"Yeah," Emmalyn says in a way that makes me think there's more to the explanation Victoria gave me on the phone earlier. "I think she was okay with the guys being outside the house, but it crosses the line of her comfort level to know they were going to be in the clubhouse while she was here. We could've made accommodations to have the guys move to other areas of the property for the women getting services from the shelter, but it didn't seem fair to ask them to move for an employee."
"That's understandable," I say.
"It makes me feel hateful, but this is their home, too," she adds.
"I don't think it's necessary to have a cook," I say softly.
"This is the first shelter I've worked at that even had one. In the other places I worked at, there was a meal plan made and approved by all residents, and then the meals were prepared based on the skill and comfort level of the residents."
Emmalyn pauses her reach into the cabinet and turns back toward me.
"Can you give me a little more detail?"
"Of course," I say. "But understand the other shelters didn't have the same level of nutritional food that was made at Juniper House. They used a lot of frozen and processed foods, but I imagine it can be adjusted. Also, everyone had to participate. Some teamed up, so they were in the kitchen twice as much, but had help every time."
"I'm listening," she says as she crosses the kitchen and takes a seat at the table.
I follow and take a seat across from her.
"Let me explain it using the women that we have right now. Melissa's shifts at the grocery store don't usually start until around eleven or twelve, which makes her available for help with breakfast. Caroline is working second shift right now, but she still doesn't go in until closer to two, so she can help with lunch. Kayla and Dana are here every day so they can fill in the spots the working women can't."
"And with skill level?"
"We had one girl who couldn't cook to save her life, but she easily grasped the concept of the air fryer."
Emmalyn scrunches her nose.
I point over her shoulder to the cabinet. "There's a Ninja Foodi in there, which is so many gadgets in one. It's a pressure cooker. Did you know you can cook an entire frozen chicken in one of those in less than an hour?"
"I know they cook very quickly. I usually slow roast-"
I wave my hand. "We have to think in terms of what they have time for."
"Right," she says.
"Plus, helping them with a routine, responsibility, and learning ways to take care of themselves when they leave is the goal. And if someone argues about contributing-"
"Like Kayla," Emmalyn interrupts.
"Yes. I'd think she might be the first one to have an opinion, but I've dealt with that before as well. If she doesn't want to contribute, then she simply doesn't reap the benefits of the others' work. If she doesn't make breakfast for everyone on the day she's assigned, then she spends the other days of the week not enjoying the meals they cooked."
"That doesn't seem mean?" Emmalyn asks.
"Who's going to cook for her when she's on her own?" I counter. "She'll have to prepare something for herself every day then. There are four women capable of helping. So right now they only have to worry about every fourth meal."
"Makes perfect sense. I wonder what they will think about it."
I shake my head. "I've also learned that if you give too many options, you'll never get them to go in the direction you want them to," I say. "It's simple. We explain that Andrea has taken another job and then set out the expectations. The only option is that they can contribute or do it all on their own."
"I expect a little pushback," Emmalyn says.
"Of course, there will be. You know how much people hate change, especially when it involves higher expectations, but we frame it for its intended purpose. It helps build the community of women by working together. It lightens the load for them individually, and it will give them the skills they need once they're living independently."