If you have ever felt that keeping track of your children was difficult, imagine being a mother to 18!

Salt Rock’s Lyndall VanderYacht and her husband Kent are parents to four biological children and a further 14 foster children aged 3-20 with their Hearts That Hope children’s home.

At an admin level that means three different homes with individual house mothers and six different school runs, but as any parent knows, it’s letting your children find out who they are which can often prove most challenging.

“Some of the kids are amazing academically and struggle to socialise, some are the opposite. Everyone has their own unique strengths,” said Lyndall.

“We have really tried to give them the space to figure out their own path, finding the best school for each child and homeschooling where needed.”

She said it was always her and Kent’s intention to be genuine parents to the children in their home.

“We wanted them to know that there was no cut-off age and that they never had to leave unless they were ready,” she said.

“We are ultimately just a big family and we want our children back for the big occasions, we want them here for Christmas and holidays like any family would.”

And like any family, there’s new experiences every year as the children grow older.

“One of our children is now out of school and another will be matriculating this year – they’ve just had their matric dance – it’s all very exciting!” she said.

“Everyone’s getting older now, you know. The kids have all developed such lovely bonds with each other and the whole home is feeling stronger as a result.”

The growth of the children naturally mirrors that of the home, which Lyndall and Kent started in 2010.

They identified a need for safe children’s homes while working with an Aids centre that All Souls Anglican Church used to run.

“At that time there was no LIV Village, no Summerhill House and no Stanger Child Welfare, so the need was desperate.”

“We took in three kids to start and quickly realised how much they needed a mom and dad. Of course we had grand visions of creating our own village, but are very happy with where we’ve landed up.”

It hasn’t always been an easy process of course, particularly given that Hearts That Hope is mostly funded by donations.

But through working extra jobs and the support of the community, both in Ballito and back home in Kent’s native USA, the home is ready for its next 15 years of operation.

They are currently fundraising for a new van to help with transport however, visit heartsthathope.com for details on how to help.

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