Delila: A Mother Who Fought
for Her Family
Delila thought that all hope was lost when her four children were taken into a care institution. However, her determination led her to find support, win her children back, and build a successful life for her family.
Delila: A Mother Who Fought
for Her Family
Delila thought that all hope was lost when her four children were taken into a care institution. However, her determination led her to find support, win her children back, and build a successful life for her family.
“I want to raise good children who are proud of their mother and who know that I have fought for them” – Delila, Mother and Business Owner.
Delila* is smiling again, but two years ago, she was in a dark, desperate place when the Guatemalan government removed her four children from her mother’s care and placed them in a residential care facility.
*Name has been changed to protect the individual’s privacy.
Delila spoke of the pain of losing her children with her partner, Miguel*. “I didn’t feel like I was the same as before. I was anxious because I didn’t have my children. I told him that I wanted to jump off a mountain because I didn’t know what else to do with myself,” she said.
The government said that Delila, 23, abandoned her children by leaving them with her mother, but the reality is a very different story. Experiencing complications from her pregnancy, Delila made a smart and fast decision to seek emergency care in Guatemala City. With no money to take the children with her, she left them with her mother, Anna Maria*. In time, Anna Maria had to return to work, so she left the children in the care of the eldest daughter, Reyna*, who was only ten at the time.
The government said that Delila, 23, abandoned her children by leaving them with her mother, but the reality is a very different story. Experiencing complications from her pregnancy, Delila made a smart and fast decision to seek emergency care in Guatemala City. With no money to take the children with her, she left them with her mother, Anna Maria*. In time, Anna Maria had to return to work, so she left the children in the care of the eldest daughter, Reyna*, who was only ten at the time.
“They were not abandoned. I just didn’t know who to leave them with because I knew that my mother had to work, and I was in pain. I didn’t know what to do; it was a risk, but it wasn’t because I wanted to leave them in that way.” By the time she arrived home from the hospital weeks later, the children were gone, along with Reyna. During the next year, Anna Maria and Delila visited them frequently at the state residential care facility.
“They were not abandoned. I just didn’t know who to leave them with because I knew that my mother had to work, and I was in pain. I didn’t know what to do; it was a risk, but it wasn’t because I wanted to leave them in that way.” By the time she arrived home from the hospital weeks later, the children were gone, along with Reyna. During the next year, Anna Maria and Delila visited them frequently at the state residential care facility.
The Changing the Way We Care team helped carry out an evaluation and found that Anna Maria was willing and able to care for the children while Delila found housing and work. Understanding the importance of keeping the children with their family and out of an institution, the judge granted her custody.
The Changing the Way We Care team helped carry out an evaluation and found that Anna Maria was willing and able to care for the children while Delila found housing and work. Understanding the importance of keeping the children with their family and out of an institution, the judge granted her custody.
After just a few months, the children visited Delila at home regularly and were ready to be with her. The Changing the Way We Care team helped show the state that the children truly belong with their mother. Anna Maria agreed, promising to visit the children regularly.
After just a few months, the children visited Delila at home regularly and were ready to be with her. The Changing the Way We Care team helped show the state that the children truly belong with their mother. Anna Maria agreed, promising to visit the children regularly.
Changing the Way We Care supports the united family with food vouchers and regular home visits so they can focus on caring for their children and providing for them. The team worked with Delila and Miguel to help the couple create a safe and nurturing environment for the children and cultivate caring family relationships.
For Miguel in particular, it was important to build effective strategies for dealing with some of the common behavioral issues the children were experiencing. As a family, they created a rewards calendar. On it, they list a series of goals each child is expected to meet. The children win stars for goals met and can eventually turn those in for a reward such as an ice cream or a toy.
Today, the family is thriving. All the school-aged children are in school. Even though she only completed sixth grade, Delila is dedicated to helping the children with their homework each night. When she finds the material too difficult, she seeks the help of a neighbor and they tutor the children together.
Today, the family is thriving. All the school-aged children are in school. Even though she only completed sixth grade, Delila is dedicated to helping the children with their homework each night. When she finds the material too difficult, she seeks the help of a neighbor and they tutor the children together.
With the money the family saved by using vouchers to buy food, they recently started a bread business. The couple invested in a moped and now use it to buy and deliver bread to families in their community. The business is part of the family plan they developed with the support of the Changing the Way We Care team.
Like women all over the world, Delila sometimes feels like being a mother is the biggest challenge she faces. However, much has changed since her children were temporarily placed in residential care. She now has the tools she needs to care for and protect her children while managing her own stress, and she is no longer alone.
Like women all over the world, Delila sometimes feels like being a mother is the biggest challenge she faces. However, much has changed since her children were temporarily placed in residential care. She now has the tools she needs to care for and protect her children while managing her own stress, and she is no longer alone.