Category Archives: Caregiver Connections

This section of The Coupland Times is for people who spend their days providing care to a fellow human being, regardless of their age, their condition, or their relationship to you. Get connected! Help each other! You are not alone!

Calling All Kids! Friday is Play Day at the Playground!

Leave a reply

If you have kids that love playing with other kids, meet us at the St. Peter’s Church playground with your kids tomorrow (Friday) from noon to 2 PM! I’ll be there with my granddaughter, our picnic lunch, and a basket of sidewalk chalk.

St. Peter’s Church has granted permission to an informal group of local caregivers of young children to have access to the Fellowship Hall restroom and be able to use the building for indoor group activities when the weather makes outside activities impractical.

This activity is not being sponsored by St. Peter’s Church. They are simply allowing the community to have access to the facility. This is not a drop-off service or a Mother’s Day Out type of activity. Caregivers are responsible for their own kids.

kids_playing

Bring games or arts & crafts activities to share. You don’t have to show up right at noon. A keyholder will be there for sure from noon to 2 PM.

The schedule will probably change from time to time according to the season or church activities but it will always be announced in advance. Right now it is Mondays and Fridays from noon to 2 PM. We hope more parents will join us. It would be great to be able to add Wednesdays also!

Even if you don’t have young kids at home, maybe you know someone who does. Please forward this story to them. If you have any questions, post a comment to this story and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Announcing Play Days at the Playground!

2 Replies

St. Peter’s Church has granted permission to an informal group of local caregivers of young children to have access to the Fellowship Hall so they can get their kids together for regular play time at the church playground. Kids and caregivers will have access to the restroom and be able to use the building for indoor group activities when the weather makes outside activities impractical.

Get out of the house. Meet other caregivers. Let the children play!

Get out of the house. Meet other caregivers. Let the children play!

This activity is not being sponsored by St. Peter’s Church. They are simply allowing the community to have access to the facility. This is not a drop-off service or a Mother’s Day Out type of activity. Caregivers are responsible for their own kids. It’s not much different from parents getting together and taking their kids to the parks in nearby cities except that it’s right here in Coupland!

The initial schedule will be Mondays and Fridays at noon with a bring-your-own picnic lunch followed by play time. The first day will be Monday, October 21. If it’s rainy or cold, don’t despair! We will play indoors. Bring fun indoor games or arts & crafts activities to share. We figure that 2 hours is a good maximum for now. You don’t have to show up right at noon. A keyholder will be there for sure from noon to 2 PM.

The schedule will probably change from time to time according to the season or church activities but it will always be announced in advance. We hope more parents will join. It would be great to be able to add Wednesdays also.

The initial group consists of yours truly, Honey Eiben, and Mary Havens. Even if you don’t have young kids at home, maybe you know someone who does. Please forward this story to them. If you have any questions, post a comment to this story and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Stewart Dale Spencer

Get Connected!

Leave a reply

community-image-2

We live in a time of separation — young from old, wife from husband, progressives from conservatives, Christians from Muslims, rich from poor, neighbors from neighbors . . . You name the category and someone will find a way to use it to keep us apart.

We complain that things aren’t like they used to be. That people used to know their neighbors. That kids used to run around outside without fear. That people used to get together for their entertainment but that now they sit inside watching television or walk around glued to their smartphones and tablets.

So what is the solution? How do we reverse the trend? I don’t have all the answers but I do have one answer. Get out of your home and meet your neighbors. If you see someone moving in, stop by and say hello. Bake some cookies and take them over. Offer to help. Invite them to church or to the Civic Organization or Fire Department meetings. Tell them about our wonderful Coupland Inn and Dancehall. Just take action. Don’t wait. Don’t fear. You might make a lifelong friend but even if you just make an acquaintance, both of you will be better off for the encounter.

We have parents and grandparents caring for young children. We have elderly and disabled folks whose days would be brightened by the simple courtesy of a visit. I really enjoy my electronics and I am still wowed by the marvel of a big screen, digital television with surround-sound but it pales in comparison to the simple joy of watching children squeal with laughter or seeing the eyes of a home-bound elder light up just to have someone listen to their stories. Everyone has had a unique life experience and when we share them, we are edified by that sharing.

I challenge the community of Coupland to take the simple steps of getting connected with their neighbors.

Take the time to schedule play days at the church playground. Tell us if you are stuck at home and would enjoy having regular visits by a new friend. Use this forum to escape your solitary confinement. Sure, everyone needs a little alone time but we only thrive when we are involved in a community. Let’s make Coupland a community of all its residents!

Stewart Dale Spencer