We Are Family

If you’ve been around a while, you might recall a disco song from the late ‘70’s by Sister Sledge called “We Are Family.” Four sisters sang this chorus that rose to the top of music industry charts:

We are family

I got all my sisters with me

We are family

Get up everybody and sing

So catchy and fun! The Pittsburgh Pirates even used it as their team song building camaraderie among players before winning the 1979 World Series against the favored Baltimore Orioles.

My husband and I married a month later, and it only made sense to play “We Are Family” at our wedding reception. Never mind the fact that my roots are a wee bit north of Pittsburgh and my husband’s roots are a wee bit south of Baltimore, and he was still “licking his wounds” over the series loss. All in good fun and celebration, right? I’m glad to report that forty-two years later, we are still family!

Why bring up this kind of history in the city of Cleveland, you ask? Pretty sure the majority of folks in The Land don’t care much for Pittsburgh OR Baltimore as far as sports teams go.

 But—truth be told, no matter what city you are from or find yourself living in later on in life, you can step inside any GiGi’s Playhouse and feel like family!

Let your mind drift back to the first time you walked into your favorite Playhouse. After absorbing the bright and beautiful color-filled environment, how did you feel?

I’ll never forget that feeling.

Immediately, GiGi’s felt welcoming.

GiGi’s felt comforting.

GiGi’s felt like family.

Members of this family share connectedness by their love for individuals with Down syndrome and their desire to help them become their very best selves. With this shared goal in mind, they will do A LOT of life together like family.

Parents of infants and young children with Down syndrome support one another in this new and often hard adventure cheering for their littles as milestones are met. Parents with older children become valued mentors who share knowledge, advice and hugs. Additionally, they help meet practical needs by passing items on that their children have outgrown. Well beyond clothing, this might include specially-equipped strollers, toy trikes or even beds.

GiGi’s Playhouse is the glue that holds this family together.

With its many fun purposeful activities for infants through adulthood, GiGi’s Playhouse provides a home away from home for this family of friends. Exercise programs, educational one-on-one tutoring, music therapies, and social gatherings are listed among GiGi’s calendar of events. Open space is available to schedule private affairs like birthday parties too.

Outside the doors of GiGi’s Playhouse, our GiGi’s family members gather together at various fundraising events and parades to celebrate and support our loved ones. We smile when we notice a stranger with Down syndrome—perhaps at the park or the zoo. Like a free pass to connect, we stop to introduce ourselves and invite them to join our GiGi’s family.

Day after day, GiGi’s family grows in number. Big-hearted volunteers line up to become members. While others arrive at GiGi’s door when that unexpected diagnosis comes.

We are family.

Might we offer up a remix of that ‘70’s song with some new lyrics? Something like…

We are family

I’ve got GiGi’s Playhouse with me

We are family

Get up everybody and sing

Sing it loud.

Sing it proud.

Add some disco moves.

And dance!

 Thank you to Rhonda Wagner, grandma to Caden and published author, for this beautiful blog depicting the family environment created by GiGi’s Playhouse. We are family! 

rhondawagnerbook.com