Bringing Parents Together at GiGi’s Playhouse

Have you heard about the GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough Parent Group? For our blog this month, we sat down with Parent Group Program Leader Jessica McMullen to learn more about this important forum and what the group hopes to accomplish.

Q: What is the purpose of the GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough Parent Group?

JM:   The parents group is a platform to bring parents together outside of programming for their children. It provides an opportunity for parents to engage in conversation, foster friendships, exchange information, and provide a source of support for each another.

Q: What is your role?

Parent Group Leader Jessica McMullen

JM: I am a volunteer program leader for the parents group. I ask parents what topics they would like to see discussed and highlighted, and then help to secure speakers and to make arrangements for the meetings.

Q: When does the group meet and what kinds of topics and speakers have you had so far?

JM: The group meets every other month. Our first session in January was an open forum allowing parents an opportunity to introduce themselves. We talked about topics they hoped to have highlighted in future meetings.

In March, Ira Fingles of Hickle, Fingles, Prior, and Fischer (special needs law firm) joined us to talk about empowering parents and the recent Supreme Court decision involving Endrew F. and how the decision impacts IEP development. The session in May was a workshop on self-nurturing led by Virginia Abu-Bakr and Brenda Wagner. They discussed realistic self-care tips for special needs parents, introducing us to the use of essential oils, breathing techniques, tapping, and meditation. Hillsborough Massage Therapy also joined us to provide mini chair massages! Our fourth session in July will be a Parent Round Table to delve into discussion about programming we want to see developed for GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough.

Q: What can we expect in the future?

JM: In the future parents, have asked to hear about topics including financial planning, transitioning from early intervention into the school district, behavior and discipline, sexuality and puberty, transition to the workplace, how best to educate others, facilitating friendships, and dual-diagnosis. If parents have other ideas, please reach out to Liz (lkepniss@gigisplayhouse.org) to let us know what you’d like to see! The success of the parent group depends on participation from parents like you!

Q: Why do you feel that this group is needed? What purpose does it serve for our families?

JM: When GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough opened in 2015, I was the parent of an infant with Down syndrome. For me, I always felt that GiGi’s was first and foremost a place for parents to connect during meaningful programming for our children. But I noticed that parents did not always have the full ability to engage in complete conversations with each other ( if they were also focused on their children). I felt that having a program exclusively for parents would be beneficial and meaningful. The group provides a purposeful opportunity for parent connections to be fostered and to grow. Quite simply, the group brings parents together in a meaningful way. We are stronger together and our children are better for the connections we make with each other.

Q:  What have been some of the outcomes or memorable moments from the parent groups we have had so far?

JM: The parents have really enjoyed the variety of the sessions and the opportunity to get out of the house to connect with like-minded parents. Parents have reached out to foster connections and for guidance finding resources for their children. It has definitely increased parental communication. I look forward to what the future brings through the meaningful interactions of the parent group.