The Third Place for Kids Turns One

The dream was a place. A sanctuary, safe haven, home away from home type of place that embraced the different kids and gave both them and their parents the opportunity to regulate. Inspired by our own children and truthfully built for them (and my husband and I), I wanted this place to be one that made people feel comfortable enough to break down some walls and feel safe with one another. This place that no one would worry about being side eyed or judged and the equipment and furniture and toys inside the space were actually TOOLS for these sensationally different kiddos to regulate and play with their families and each other. 

365 days ago we opened the doors of this magical place and hoped if we built it, the people would come. And boy did they show up! Grand opening was a flood of people through the doors, giant smiles and big excitement around the space and the mission. And day after day people continued to find us. We welcomed exhausted and anxious parents through our doors and never expected the amount of happy, relieved tears we saw. These parents were desperate for a space like this, and for every tear I wiped and hug I gave, my dream quietly shifted. The play space we had built quickly turned into the community center we all understand it to be today. 

Over the past year (plus some) my family and I worked tirelessly continuing to build this place, the culture, the vibes, the connections, the support-all newly fueled by those tears and hugs I never expected to experience. Each day I held space for every parent and caregiver, made connections I never saw coming, and slowly built the village I was desperate for from the very beginning. And my little family’s life changed. This space became my girls’ happy place, where all of their friends came to play with them and their favorite people showed up every week. We have been to more birthday parties than I can count. I have laughed, cried, and hugged more inside these four walls than I ever have in my entire life. Logan has connected with more people than I’ve ever seen, and we’ve been able to chase this dream together. 

The dream was a place. 

And every single day since we opened that dream was quietly changing, morphing into what the dream truly has been from the start. 

365 days later I turned around and realized that we did so much more than build a place. 

The dream was always each and every one of you. 

This community that formed, these connections that changed me forever. 

YOU are the dream, you have been from the start.

So, thank you. For showing up, for spreading the love that lives inside these four walls forever. For filling my cup in ways I never knew I needed. And thank you for making my dream come true. 💖

Love always,

Casey