Testimonial

I’d like to share my experience in regards of the help I got from the Kangaroo House.
I am a single mother of a 5 and a half years old boy. I’m alone since his young age to provide. I also have to see to all his educational needs and I don’t have much support from his father and my family. Sometimes I get really exhausted and I rarely get the chance to recover. Even when I’m sick, I don’t get any help and to my opinion it is inhumane not to rest when we’re so unwell that, against our will, we have to stay in bed.
Holidays during the holiday season should be a time for the parents to have fun and to be able to rest after all the hard work accomplished throughout the year. Unlike what people think it is a very different story for a single parent because we have no one to take over.
It was a winter evening, I remember and will always remember, January 2nd … I was in a state of total exhaustion. With the help of a friend who had referred me to the Kangaroo House, I was able to call the organization at the moment when I needed it the most. The person who answered greeted me and I felt compassion for what I was experiencing. With her comforting words and listening, I felt relieved that I was not alone in the world.
I was lucky enough to receive the services of this extraordinary organization. Therefore I was able to rest and then have a better life with my son.
Thank you Josée
P.L.

Hello,
I just read about your project in La Presse. Congratulations on this great initiative.
Serge F. The school Virage

Hello,
I read an article about the Kangaroo House on the blog “mother blog” posted on the La Presse Website.. I think it’s a great idea.
D.

Hello!   
I have an urgent and growing need for a few days’ respite. Although I have no money and I am from the south shore. I am alone with my little girls. I am suffering from depression with a borderline personality diagnosis. My parents are exhausted and, despite my repeated requests, they can not help me, I have been sick for three weeks now and I can’t stand myself, neither my children.. I’m too tired!

Hello Ms. Fortin,
I am a social worker working in a CLSC and I heard about your resource on television. I take this opportunity to congratulate you on this valuable initiative; our families are in dire need of this kind of resource. Bravo again Ms. Fortin and have a good day.
J. B. Social Worker

Hello,
I have read about the Kangaroo House project in an article of the Montreal Gazette. What a great initiative and so relevant! I am myself involved in a family home for 16 years and I recognize the critical need for a service like this – respectful of families, their social role and their concerns. Congratulations and keep up the good work,
M.E

Good evening,
It is with great interest that I read the article in La Presse last July, talking about your wonderful Kangaroo House project. I hope with all my heart that your project works out … we rarely see such awesome projects! Regards, F.C.

Hello Ms. Fortin,
Congratulations on your initiative. Many parents need support and I found your initiative an excellent way to support and protect children.
Kind regards, I.P.

Hello Josée Fortin,
I am sending you beautiful energies to gather what you need for this work. Feel free to call us for human resources.
K. L. Special Education Technique Teacher at Cégep du Vieux-Montréal Responsible for coordinating internships 2 and 3

I admire your courage and initiative. When it will get better for me, it will be my turn to start something similar on the south shore! The need is there and there is not enough services available, especially for the single parents. We must act before tragedies or separations mother / children or father / children happen. I sincerely believe that there is not enough light on the single parent situation. Thank you!
V. V.

This idea is fantastic!
This morning at LCN, I heard for the first time about this Kangaroo House project and I want to congratulate you about it. I don’t know who had the idea but I’m sure it will respond to a request increasingly evident in our society.
Several years ago I would have liked to have the support of a Kangaroo House. Since it did not exist, I had to deal with pain and misery, but I managed. I have two children who are now teenagers and I am very proud of them. Long life to your project,
Sincerely, N.

Hello Josee.
I work as a specialist in the Directorate of Student Behavior in the the Montreal English School Board, and has done so for 18 years. I read with great interest the article in The Gazette this morning from the Kangaroo House. What a wonderful idea. Finally! I always asked myself why we do not have anything to address the needs of families who cope with difficulty (on a temporary basis) and need a little help with their kids, to get through the daily obstacles. Good luck with what appears to be a wonderful and much needed project!
L.R.

Hello,
I am aware of the existence of the Kangaroo House since I read about it in a newspaper article. Let me give you a quick picture of my situation. I am a single mother of three children of 3, 6 and 8 years old. I am separated from the father since March 2010. The father is completely absent; the children see him three hours on Saturday in a supervision center. He doesn’t pay for child support (despite several judgments) and I work 30 hours a week. My family is in France and I don’t have any help here. In short, I am tired, exhausted… I need a break…
Sincerely, L.

Hello Ms. Fortin,
I found your Website while reading a story on the Guy Turcotte trial and I was touched by your idea of the need for children to have a safe haven when their parents are incapable of doing so. Several years ago, I found myself in a similar situation while going through an extremely painful and emotional separation from my husband. My children were around 9 and 10 at the time and I did not have the energy for anything beyond providing the most basic necessities. I was fortunate that my parents came to my house a few times a week so that I could cry, sleep, walk, take a bath and try to recover and they hugged, bathed, loved my children when I could not do so fully. I was also seeing a psychologist once a week to help me to identify and cope with my anger, disappointment, resentment and a lot of other feelings – especially when my husband would drive up in his shiny new car with his rich girlfriend to pick up my children and enjoy the weekend in Mont-Tremblant. Now, with much hard work and determination, I am in a very good place! My children are both excellent students; my son is in university and my daughter in Cégep. I work at an amazing company, I have good people in my life and I volunteer often to give back a bit of my good fortune. I would like to have more information about the volunteering opportunities that you have available and how I may be able to help with either the children, the parents or in administration. I look forward to hearing back from you,
Best Regards D.

Dear Mrs Fortin,

I don’t know how to start thanking you for last weekend. It meant a lot to me and my son. First of all, La Maison Kangourou is impressive and welcoming but I didn’t expect that the attention and love shared at this home was going to be so huge. Sunday night, I found my son in peace, talking a lot and happy. He was proud to show me his toys and friends. He was acting like he was at our house. Before leaving, he gave Mrs Louise a big hug and has even cried when he saw his friend (another cute little boy) entering another car, instead of leaving with us.

And the mother…I was able to rest and take care of me and take care of the house that I share with my son. I was really tired! I realized that when I was trying to wake up from a 2-hours nap and my body was really heavy and I couldn’t move my hands! Nevertheless, no worries, I quickly regained my strength 🙂

Thank you so much for everything!

Cristina C.