Molly’s Story – “WINGS was a Huge Turning Point in My Life”
- Posted by Sarah Swiston
- On November 28, 2023
- breaking the cycle, chicago metropolitan area, Chicago suburbs, children services, children survivors dv, Domestic Violence, domestic violence agency, DV agency, dv survivors, End Domestic Violence, Escaping domestic violence, families breaking the cycle of violence, family services, Housing Programs, independence, Molly's Story, non-profit, non-profit agencies, northwest chicago, Shelters, Turning Point, WINGS, WINGS Program
At a local high school community fair, WINGS Children’s Advocate, Ilona was overseeing a table about WINGS resources. Suddenly she looked up and saw a past client, Molly. Moments later, Ilona was receiving the biggest hug from Molly. After reconnecting with Ilona, Molly shares her experience and how WINGS was a huge turning point in her life.
Back in Time
“This fall, while at my son’s high school open house a face stuck out to me and brought me back in time.
Back to a time when my son and I were residents at WINGS. It was Ilona! I looked forward to my time every week with Ilona while living in the shelter. She taught me so much and was pivotal in helping my son and me through a very difficult time.”
Scared
“I came to WINGS scared, but that was not new to me. I had been living my life scared and making poor decisions out of fear for a long time. My son and I stayed in different emergency shelters for six months, but it was WINGS that helped me leave my situation for good.
I showed up at WINGS broken, beaten down by what others said, and who they made me feel I was.”
Clarity
“At WINGS I was able to get away and create distance which brought clarity. When I left my home situation, I realized that I was ok, I actually felt and performed better than in my previous toxic and abusive environment.
I began to do more and see what I was capable of, and this is when I started to think things could be different for my life.”
Insight
“I gained new insight into my situation. Finally I had the space and safety to explore why I had made the decisions I had and was in the situations I was in.
I will never forget sitting with Ilona for a session and her telling me I was allowed and capable of setting boundaries with my parents, I was even allowed to go without any contact. It blew my mind at the time.
While at WINGS I began to see abuse for what it was. I remember watching a YouTube video on what was abuse and what was love. I was shocked, what they described as love felt like a fairytale, I didn’t think it existed.
This was the starting point of a great awakening within me, and major healing began to take place.”
Support
“WINGS not only provided me with a safe place to stay, but there was always staff available when I needed to talk through these new concepts and difficult emotions. Other shelters I was at provided a bed, but the supportive staff at WINGS is what truly helped me to heal.
I was only at WINGS for three months, but it was life changing. I remember meeting with Ilona, I could see on her face that she saw something in me that I could not see for myself at that time.
WINGS was not chocolate and bubble baths, but they provided what I needed to create a sustainable new life for my son and me. It was a LOT of HARD WORK; they pushed me past what I thought I was capable of, but I did it.
That was only four years ago, it feels like a lifetime ago. It was a huge turning point in my life. Today I am proud to be a single mom to two beautiful souls.”
Counseling
“While at WINGS, the renewal date for my counseling license came up.
At the time it was the last of my savings and I felt like my life was such a mess there would never be a time I would work as a counselor.
I was encouraged to renew my license and keep my doors open. Currently, I am happy to say I am working as a therapist in two different private practices and am proud this work gives me the ability to support my family.
I feel so passionate about my work as a counselor and have found that my path and the personal work I have done only aids in my ability to relate to and understand where clients are coming from.
Life Now
Life isn’t easy by any means and in leaving toxic relationships behind I still lack a lot of support; however, God has provided the people and work I need to make it on my own. I am developing deep and mutually supportive friendships and creating the healthy family I always wanted.
What’s different now is I believe in myself and that gives me so much hope for the future. When things feel overwhelming, I just continue to take baby steps forward and the consistency of effort and striving is how things change.
When I look back at my time at WINGS, I know I can do hard things, knowing that has helped me to get to where I am today.
I’m forever grateful for the shelter and support WINGS provided me when I had nowhere else to turn.”
Learn More
Read about this meeting from Ilona’s perspective:
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