Family Fun. What's It Mean?
Did you know that the four pillars of Pause - rest, support, connection, and fun are intentional strategies based on national data and over 7500 hours of our Pause team talking to caregivers? We provide different resources and events that fit into each of these categories because we know a family can move from surviving to thriving and have better overall outcomes if they are getting a balance of each of these. If you’ve checked out the Resource Hub on our website, you already know this is a priority for us!
One thing we take seriously at Pause is fun! It is a pillar, but also a core value. We know when families have fun together they are more likely to create stronger relationships, build stronger family traditions, and in turn, confidence in kiddos will grow. Pause hosts at least 8 virtual and in-person Family Fun events a year, the majority of which are annual events to model tradition and to give families something to look forward to as each season approaches.
On July 18th, Pause hosted 112 Pause kiddos and caregivers at our first annual “Kona Ice in the Park” event at Dudley Memorial park! Families came together to talk, laugh and play after a long time of not seeing each other in close proximity. Water activities, thank you signs for the volunteers working in our new space, sensory activities and the playground were hits, but according to the survey there was a clear top winner for FUN - Kona Ice! Guys. Unlimited Kona Ice. Does it get better than that? The survey says no!
Pause welcomed 3 new families to this event and one sweet mama had this to say: “I told my husband after the Kona Ice event you all are so brilliant in that you provide everything in this organization to make it whatever each specific family needs it to be. I was a therapist in a previous life before kiddos and have been hesitant to join support groups because I didn’t know exactly what I needed and how that would fit in with what was offered. You all aren’t a support group…you’re a group that offers any and every support. It’s absolutely amazing! We are excited to be a part of Pause!”
BIG shoutouts to...
Pause Approved Partner - Dudley Memorial Park for providing a safe environment for our kiddos. (This is in part to one of our own Pause mamas, Maureen Mowl, and her leadership and collaboration with Dudley Memorial park to build a fence around the playground in 2018 - way to go!)
Lori Statchwill for serving us unlimited Kona Ice with a smile and for being sensitive to the needs of our kids.
Faith Bogard & Ally Hamilton for volunteering their time to take pictures - we appreciate you using your passion and skills to capture all of the sweet moments families had!
And to YOU, our CAN DO network for donating supplies for the event!
This event may seem like something fun to do, but research shows that events just like this one give special needs families a chance to breathe and enjoy each other without focusing on labels or a diagnosis. No matter what role you had, you provided a space for families to get what they needed - rest, support, connection and fun. Pretty sure that makes you a hero.
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
