Ethan & Thomas

Meet Ethan and Thomas, they have been matched for 6 months and are off to a great start. They have already learned so much from one another, from how to be brave when trying new things, to how small actions of gratitude (like helping with the dishes) can make a big difference. These two have BIG plans to keep learning and growing together, and that’s what makes them our Match of the Month! Congratulations to you both, we can’t wait to see what you do next. 

​Ethan and Thomas have a shared favorite memory of their time together,  baking cookies! It was the first time Ethan had ever baked cookies. Thomas noted that Ethan was very open to learning about the baking process, and that he did not get frustrated when he needed to be corrected. Ethan loved the learning process too, but not as much as he enjoyed eating the results. He enthusiastically declared they were, “The BEST cookies he had ever had in his entire life!” Exploring new things together both builds trust in a relationship, and builds confidence in a young person to continue exploring other new ideas, and interests. 

We firmly believe that Bigs and Littles have a lot to teach each other. Ethan and Thomas’ match is an excellent example of this. Ethan’s family took time to teach Thomas about the Chinese Moon Festival. And when Ethan and Thomas went for a swing at the park it was Ethan who walked Thomas through the process of jumping off a swing, and built up his confidence so he was brave enough to take the leap. Thomas empowered Ethan to teach him something new, when you show that kind of faith in a young person it teaches them to believe in themselves. 

When Ethan and Thomas got together to build model planes, it turned into a science experiment. They reconfigured the planes several times to see what would happen if you turned the wings upside down, or backward. And carefully observed how each variation affected the plan’s flight. This simple moment of fun and exploration teaches Ethan that not only is it ok to ask questions and experiment, but also how to learn from the results of his actions. This translates into important life skills that are sure to help Ethan in the future. Congrats again to you both on being our Feb Match of the Month, we hope you keep playing and learning together!