Community is…

This is an ongoing list.

When we hear families say, “that’s community,” we’re going to jot it down here.

A growing list that will show what community means to the families who visit LYKKE Kids:

• “…when I see the drawings left behind on the art table [from the week] it feels like community. To know others have been in enjoying the space before us” (from a Dad who visits on Saturday mornings with his son)

• when someone needed a diaper last weekend for their kiddo. When we asked the group, multiple hands shot up into the air… “I have a size 5!” “I have one if you need!” Someone said, “that’s community.”

• the time when a friend offered to be at LYKKE Kids with a friend’s baby, so she and her partner could go out for a coffee alone - for the first time since their baby was born. The baby cried and cried, despite everything the friend tried. When suddenly it was quiet. In the hallway we could see another woman who was visiting the space with her kiddo, holding the little one bopping back and forth with her. She had offered to try. We called her the baby whisperer. Community. (observed one weekend)

• a group of families in the art studio, surrounding 4 cakes glowing with candles, singing “Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday Dear LYKKE, Happy Birthday to Us!” Families celebrating LYKKE Kids being open for one year with cake and being together.

• “Families from my son’s old daycare were here and friends who I didn’t know were coming. It was so fun.”

• a little one passed me [Lainie] on the sidewalk one day with her grandpa and had a big grin on her face. “I know who you are!” Me: You do?! (I knew her too). From where? “There!!! [she said as she pointed at the building with LYKKE Kids]

• families looking into the space and waving as they pass by

• people stopping by just to say hi

• when the space turned 1, women who visit with their kids stopped by with gifts: a bouquet of flowers, handwritten notes / cards, a book for the space, yummy hot chocolate, a book for our family, a piece of art work for the space…