A typical day for Sarah and Molly Malarcher begins with a casual breakfast, followed by a few episodes of “Bob the Builder.” After watching some television they get dressed and play in the courtyard outside their home at Nicholson Apartments.
“We’re not very exciting,” Malarcher said. “We are going to the zoo today, though!”
Most Monday through Thursdays follow similar patterns for the mother and daughter. Sarah stays home with her 2-year-old daughter, and Donie, her husband, attends class. Donie is working to finish his senior year in secondary education at the University.
On the weekends, Donie watches Molly while Sarah, a registered nurse at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, works three 12-hour shifts.
Sarah and Donie Malarcher, with their busy and complicated lifestyle, are exactly the type of people the Women’s Center aims to reach with its Family Resource Room.
With toys, books and games lining each bright purple wall, the Family Resource Room at the LSU Women’s Center is designed to be a relaxing and playful spot for students, faculty, staff and community members to bring their children on campus.
Established two years ago in partnership with the LSU Child Care Center, the Family Resource Room is now planning to start play group sessions, in which children can play, while parents can discuss child-rearing issues.
“Play nights will be once a week in the evening for parents that work,” said Women’s Center Manager Amber Vlasnik.
Beginning in February, the play group sessions will most likely be on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m., Vlasnik said.
Vlasnik said another play group goal is to simply increase networking and interaction among student parents in the LSU community.
So far, the Women’s Center has had difficulty reaching student parents and making them aware of the resources and services available to them.
“The hardest part is, we don’t know who has children,” Vlasnik said. “LSU doesn’t collect that information, so there isn’t a list of contacts.”
Mary Sciaraffa, director of the LSU Child Care Center, said the room is an easy on-campus spot for parents to meet if both are students and have to switch off taking care of the child between classes.
“It’s a precious little room, it just needs more foot traffic,” Sciaraffa said. “If Mom or Dad needs to study, some places like Middleton Library just aren’t child friendly, so they can come here.”
The Malarchers, like many parents, were not aware of the Family Resource Room, but are now very enthusiastic and said the play groups would be something they would definitely try to attend.
“There was a little play group we went to at Our Lady of Mercy, but it was just too far,” Malarcher said. “Something on campus is a great idea because then you get to meet people around you.”
Malarcher said they have some family and one or two friends with small children, but Molly really needs some more friends closer to home.
The Women’s Center, including the Family Resource Room, is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.