This is a pretty devastating blow....

...to my community and to me personally. This place , Family Connections, is no more. I've written about it frequently on this blog --it's the non-profit agency in my neighborhood, with the toy and book lending library, story-times, and "baby rock-show". It's within walking distance from my house and Henry and I spent countless hours there. It was an impromptu meeting place for the stay-at-home moms b/c they had a playroom and it was a great place to show up randomly when it was raining or too hot or cold and I ALWAYS ran into someone (or many people) I knew. The staff members became friends as well and we knew each other by first names. The head librarian emailed me just 2 weeks ago asking if we had any extra fish in our tank that we could donate to theirs.

This is definitely like a death. I'm still in the shock/doubt stage of the grief process. I know I will be hitting anger real soon, especially after reading that the Executive Director is probably in Venezuela now sipping margaritas with the cool 1 million she stole. So let me try to expand on what an incredible blow this is to my community and me personally. I have been going there at least once a week for the last six years. First, as the activities coordinator at the Austin Children's Shelter. I used to check out their art supplies, get butcher paper, and check out books related to activities for young children. After I had Henry, I began going there to check out their baby toys and baby books. Everything was sanitized and it was a great way to have many toy-options and then taking them back when your kid was sick of them. They were mostly well-made, Montessori-type wooden, educational toys, not plastic blinking crap. I also joined their weekly play-group for children Henry's age. Each week they had a different speaker that addressed topics like nutrition, sleep, bonding, etc. The children crawled or toddled around and played while the moms commiserated and asked questions. It was a lot of fun and something to look forward to each week. When you're a SAHM, filling your day with people and activities is SO IMPORTANT for your sanity, and FC provided such an outlet for me. I made so many mom-friends there that I continue to have and rely on for support.

FC also had a very active Postpartum support group. When their therapist went on vacation, I subbed for her at their South location. Those women are luckily still able to meet but the therapist is working as a volunteer now.

I will especially miss their Friday programming. Each Friday the place filled to capacity for a children's live- music performance, or story-time/art activity. I have many many memories of Henry sitting in my lap, digging into his snack cup, while swaying to the music and then jumping up and down to catch the room-full of bubbles that followed every performance. I am so sad that Eleanor and I will not get to do that.

Since going back to work, I have relied on the FC library to check-out books related to my field. Sitting on my shelf at work right now, are 5 of their therapy and parenting books, all specifically dealing with childhood trauma (since that's mainly the type of kids I see). I have checked out every book they have (probably) related to sleep or nutrition and many many parenting books. I would never be able to afford all those books and the regular library would not have that type of selection. FC was made for child-care professionals, and for parents of young children. There is nothing else like that in this community and it's a loss for me professionally and personally. I hope someone steps in and fills this huge void.

Now I know how Norm felt...when Cheers closed.