As Mom Works, Older Children Help With Family Duties

Family life can be a bit hectic at the Coles' apartment in the north Houston area, but her older children help out, she said. Christian, 14, Chanya, 13, and Destiny, 12 have taken the responsibility of caring for their younger siblings Jordan, 8, and Cydney, 6, while Cole works full-time as a security guard. The Houston Chronicle program provides toys for children 2 to 10 from needy families. When I get up in the morning the kids have usually had breakfast already and are already dressed," their mother said, "but they love that I drive them to school every morning.