Q & A with Debbie Callison: A Waco campus homeparent
Q: How did you learn about MCH?
A: My grandparents were homeparents in various home units at MCH in the late 60s to mid 70s. They would share stories about the boys they worked with. As a young girl, I would come to MCH to visit my grandparents and stay a week or so.
My parents later sponsored youth at the Home and we had several of the boys come out to our place for the holidays. We had land and a lake and often went fishing together.
I still have the five-year pin my grandmother received from MCH. It is a bow with a heart dangling from it with MCH in the middle of the heart. My grandfather received a tie tack.
Q: When did you realize you wanted to work at MCH?
A: My husband, Steve, and I had raised our three children and were on a trip to San Marcos to see one of our sons. As we got closer to Waco during our journey, I kept thinking of MCH and some old friends who were homeparents at the time. I mentioned to Steve about the idea of becoming homeparents. He was quite surprised, but he supported me and we looked into it.
We visited our friends at the Waco campus, put in an application, talked with Charlsie Whitney, an administrator on the Waco campus, and began our career as homeparents two weeks later.
Q: How would you describe your experience at MCH?
A: I would describe it as challenging, frustrating at times, but very rewarding. Steve and I feel we were placed here by God. Although my grandparents will never know I became a homeparent, I know they would be pleased. I feel I am carrying on a family tradition.
We are still in contact with two young men who lived in one of the home units my grandparents worked at. They told me recently that I am starting to look like my grandmother and asked if I was just as tough. I told them I was tougher.
