At a table covered in brightly colored cord, Craig, a parent in Simpson’s Family Housing program, is showing a room full of parents how to braid a keychain. A few months ago, this was something he did on his own to steady himself through stressful times. Now he is the teacher in this “My Time” workshop.
My Time workshops are a gathering space for parents and caregivers in Simpson Housing Services Family Housing program. It’s small and simple, and for the families who come, it can change a lot.
Parent Need a Space of Their Own
Homelessness is isolating. Parents moving through shelter and supportive housing can become disconnected from friends, family, and community. For people experiencing homelessness there can be a lot to navigate with challenging barriers: finding stable housing, keeping children in school, managing health and money, all while making sure their family feels loved and safe.
“We often have parents who comment they don’t have any mom friends,” said Hannah Wietgrefe, Simpson’s Children and Youth Services Program Coordinator. “And we can say, ‘I know a place you can go to meet lots of mom friends. It’s called My Time. Come hang out with us.’”
My Time grew out of what parents themselves asked for: a place to gather, to learn from each other, and to be supported by people who understand. Sessions happen during the school day, and Simpson staff care for the younger children. For a couple of hours, parents get to simply be adults among adults and share their expertise.
Craig makes paracord keychains and dog leashes as a way to practice mindfulness and find joy, and he’s taught the skill to his kids. When Hannah asked whether he’d like to teach other parents, he lit up. He wrote the shopping list, budgeted the event, told staff where to buy materials, and helped design the flyer.
As the date got closer and life got harder, Hannah checked in to ask whether it had become one more thing on his plate. Craig’s answer: “Do not take this away. This is the thing that is bringing me joy.”
He met every participant where they were, crafty or not, and learned from them as they learned from him. Craig left asking when he could teach another class!
Small Moments, Outsized Impact
Earlier this year, Simpson’s early childhood team hosted a My Time event on homemade toys and games. Parents of babies and toddlers had asked for budget-friendly ways to play, and staff knew how much pressure parents living with limited resources can feel when play seems like it requires expensive toys. Then something unexpected happened. Parents began trading memories of their own childhoods: running around outside and getting dirty, playing cards, the joy of a mom, grandma, or auntie stopping to play with them. Those memories turned into plans like a “no-phones hour” after dinner or a weekly trip to the park.
Jocelyn Pickreign, Children and Youth Services Manager, explains why that matters. Researchers call these moments benevolent childhood experiences, and they help counterbalance adverse ones like homelessness. “Benevolent childhood experiences can be very small events, routines or rituals,” she explains, “and those small moments can have positive impact that stays with a child for a lifetime.”
Breaking the cycle of homelessness isn’t only about a roof. It’s about parents who feel confident, connected, and capable, and children who grow up surrounded by the kind of love and play that helps them thrive. My Time builds exactly that, one gathering at a time.