Texas Seniors Trade Retirement for Mentoring Kids

Debra Whitfield could be watching soap operas at home, but instead she's spending her retirement making memories with children who need her.

Through the Foster Grandparent Program in Sherman, Texas, seniors like Whitfield are finding new purpose by mentoring kids of all ages and abilities. The program pairs retired volunteers with children who need help developing social and emotional skills.

"I am retired, and I don't want to go and work a really eight-hour job," Whitfield explained. "And I learn from the children every day."

The volunteers receive training to help kids work through everything from basic manners to bigger challenges like managing emotions. At Divine Equine, a therapeutic riding center, senior mentors guide children through activities with horses that teach patience, courage, and self-control.

Judy Neidrich, a program volunteer, remembers working with a bright autistic boy who was terrified to touch the horses. During a painting activity one day, she accidentally got paint on his nose.

The child surprised her by dabbing paint right back on her nose. Neidrich laughed so hard she almost cried at the playful moment.

That small breakthrough changed everything. Soon after, the boy reached out and touched the horse for the first time. By the end of the session, his handprints were painted all over Bunny the horse alongside the other students.

Sunny's Take

These grandparents are getting something special out of the deal too. "The kids bring me back," one volunteer shared, capturing what makes this program work both ways.

Former program supervisor Bonnie Arrington says watching volunteers arrive each day tells the whole story. They come in excited, ready to see how the children they've bonded with are growing and learning.

For seniors who want to stay active without the demands of full-time work, the program offers the perfect balance. They get structure, social connection, and the deep satisfaction of knowing they're shaping young lives.

The program proves that retirement doesn't have to mean slowing down or stepping back. Sometimes the best years come when we find new ways to show up for each other.