A Place for Friends
September’s Best of All
is continual, measurable, celebrated and it never ends. It is a daily challenge to do a little better than you did the day before and it’s always celebrated. Possible manifestations: standing just one second longer, reading just one more word, learning just one new number, taking just one more step, never a competition, never completed.
Having a child with special needs doesn’t come with a road map, and every journey is unique. However, that doesn’t mean you have to go through it alone. That’s why we are excited to highlight Benjamin as our “Best of All” for September. His journey is unique as he doesn’t have Down syndrome, but he has become an essential part of the GiGi’s Playhouse community.
Benjamin and his family first connected with GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities in 2018 when Benjamin was just 3 years old. Since then, it has been a perfect match. “GiGi’s has been a lifeline for us,” said his mother, Maura. “It’s a place where I’ve met some of my best friends, a place where I’ve connected with other parents who are walking this path with us. It’s a space where we’ve always felt welcomed and free to be exactly who we are. We’ve been absolutely grateful to have found GiGi’s. From tutoring and sign language classes as a toddler and preschooler to Special Olympics classes and teams, Kid’s Club, and Cooking, we love everything we’ve been part of. Benjamin doesn’t have Down syndrome; he has a brain injury from meningitis as an infant, and I felt completely alone until I found my people at GiGi’s Playhouse. We can’t imagine life without it!”
When Benjamin first started coming to GiGi’s, he couldn’t speak, but that didn’t stop him from communicating what the Playhouse meant to him. “One of my favorite memories of GiGi’s was when Benjamin was three and couldn’t speak yet. He created his own sign for GiGi’s. It took me a couple of days to figure out why he chose that sign, but I realized it was the sign for ‘friends.’ It made me cry. I think it was one of the first places we truly felt like we belonged,” Maura shared.
Benjamin has a few favorite things about GiGi’s, but what excites him most is seeing familiar faces. “His absolute favorite thing about GiGi’s is seeing people he knows. He loves seeing friends, staff, and the parents of friends. He leaps out of the car and races ahead of me to check out the scene,” Maura added. Another fun activity Benjamin enjoys is playing DJ—choosing the music at GiGi’s—and rushing outside to catch the sound of passing trains.
If you’re lucky enough to be at the Playhouse when Benjamin is there, you’ll quickly be greeted by him. He’s great at introducing himself and making sure everyone knows that GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities is a welcoming and inclusive space. He’s also known for celebrating everyone’s accomplishments—Benjamin loves to clap when a fellow participant achieves something or when he does himself. No one ever feels unwelcome when Benjamin’s around.
Today, we want to celebrate Benjamin’s hard work and accomplishments.
In the kitchen at GiGi Kitchen Kids, he’s been trying new foods, even when it’s difficult for him. At Kids Club, he’s been practicing patience, even when he is excited. Volunteers have noticed him working on waiting until his friends are done speaking before chiming in. He’s also been helping gather participants to play with the parachute, ensuring no one feels left out.
We’re thrilled to see Benjamin’s hard work paying off and look forward to celebrating all the progress he’ll continue to make.
Benjamin can now speak and proudly say “GiGi’s,” but we know that, just like when he was younger, it will always be a place he associates for friends.
To help us provide free programs that are educational and therapeutic in nature to individuals with Down syndrome from birth through adulthood, their families and the community donate HERE
To volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse Twin Cities: HERE
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