José is 27 years old and lives in the semi-urban community of Nejapa with his partner, Michelle.
Michelle is a young mother who has become a community leader and a guide for other mothers in the community. As a Volunteer Mother of the Parenting with love program, Michelle has not only influenced her neighbors, but she has also become a teacher for her husband.
The couple has been together for 4 years now. Less than 2 years ago, they became parents of a baby girl that motivates them both to be better every day.
José shares: “I play with her, take care of her, and protect her. I leave for work at 1:40 pm and come back around 12 or 1 am. I work as a taxi driver. On Sundays, my only free day, I give her my time and play with her. I enjoy when she calls me dad, to listen to her first words.”
For José, the Parenting with love program has been a school: “They help other mothers and motivate them. It’s a source of support for new mothers, and for those who don’t know how to take care of a baby. There, they learn to raise kids with love and affection. “
“This is the first time I have heard about these topics, of the care that the mom and baby require. For me, the only care that was needed were the prenatal check-ups with the doctor, for mothers to take care of the diet and make sure they take their pills.”
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In the interview, José expressed the hardest thing for a parent in when their children get sick because they completely change. They don’t want to has been when they get sick. They walk sadly,, they don’t play, they just want to lie down or sleep. This is something they have recently emperienced.
In Nicaragua, we celebrate Father’s Day on June 23rd. Because of this, we asked José to share how he would like to celebrate this day:
“I would like to celebrate it with my wife, my daughter and my family. Share a meal, share a cake, and go out somewhere.“