By Margo Burton
Guest Blogger

Girls’ Night Out is a new group that falls under the mentoring program at Tupelo Children’s Mansion. Girls between the ages of 13 – 16 have been meeting every Wednesday evening for some special “girl time.” The girls were given an opportunity with guidance to pick their activities for this program. The girls chose activities such as; Hair Night, Out to Eat and Shopping Night, Spa Night, Cooking Night, and Reading Night.

This core group has been meeting since March of this year. It is a time where the girls can get together and talk about hair, purses, shopping, or issues that only girls of this age experience. Their favorite activity has definitely been cooking. The girls planned their own menu that they would like to learn to cook. At the end of the session, the girls would like to serve their meal to the administration at the Mansion. Some of the items that they have been learning to cook are: Szechuan Chicken with Angel Hair Pasta, Spinach, Strawberry, and Hearts of Palm Salad, Strawberry Punch, and Cheese Biscuits. The aprons were made by the Dorcas Ladies of Louisiana. We will have their names monogrammed onto the aprons so that they can keep and use every time they cook.

One of the girls commented that she looked forward to Girls’ Night Out every Wednesday. All of the girls then spoke up in agreement.  At times you are not always sure how teenagers are feeling about things that are planned. I knew then that every minute put into this mentoring program was worthwhile. At the Mansion, we are trying to help children in every aspect of their life. We pray that they take all the little nuggets of love and information that is given to them and use it to the benefit of their lives.