Each year, thousands of Island families must leave home for health care. In Nanaimo, the nearest hotel is over two kilometers from the hospital. Mothers in early labour from Ucluelet face a 2.5-hour drive, while families from Port Hardy travel 388 kilometres.

Jesse’s House in Nanaimo will bring families closer to care, removing a major barrier to vital health services.

Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island recently announced a $10-million fundraising campaign to build a home away from home for Island families travelling to Nanaimo for their child’s health care. The announcement was made at a special groundbreaking ceremony held at the future site of the home on the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital campus on October 8.

The 16-bedroom facility, named Jesse’s House, will welcome families from across Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands who need a place to stay while accessing Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and nearby health care services. Construction is estimated to be complete by spring 2027.

Jesse’s House is named after Nanaimo resident Sheri Shanahan’s daughter, the late Jesse Shanahan. Sheri has been an important partner and champion for a home away from home in Nanaimo ever since she stayed at Jeneece Place while Jesse was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Victoria General Hospital.

“When my family stayed at Jeneece Place, it gave us comfort during one of the hardest times of our lives,” said Shanahan.

“I am so excited to have worked alongside Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island to bring the vision of Jesse’s House to life. This home away from home will have a huge impact on the lives of Island families, providing a safe, warm place where they can receive the same support that meant so much to us, and be just steps away from their child.”

Jesse’s House will be the third home in the Foundation’s Homes Away From Home program, with others in Victoria and Campbell River. Jeneece Place was established in 2012, after Jeneece Edroff (now known as Frankie) asked the community to rally behind the development of a home for families to stay while their children received health care in Victoria. In 2021, together with families, health care providers and community groups from northern Vancouver Island, the Foundation expanded the model to open a second home in Campbell River called Q’walayu House.

“It’s wonderful to see the Foundation expand into Nanaimo to support families north of the Malahat who need to travel to access care for their kids,” says Paul Murray, board chair of Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

“Jesse’s House will have such a large impact for generations to come, and we are excited to work alongside the community to bring it to life.”

To date, the Foundation has generated $7 million for the project through assurances from the community, including Coastal Community Credit Union, Budget, the Rogers Foundation and an anonymous donor who stepped forward with an astounding $2 million core funding gift.

“The Nanaimo community has stepped up in such a big way to meet the growing demand for a mid-Island home away from home,” said Veronica Carroll, CEO of Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.

“With no government funding for this project, every bedroom, shared space and moment of support this home provides to families will be thanks to the generosity and foresight of people in this community. It is truly inspiring.”

Through a collaborative agreement with Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), the Foundation has been granted a 40-year lease for a parcel of land on the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital campus.

“Jesse’s House will provide much-needed comforts of home and familiarity during very difficult times for families,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair.

“We are so thankful to Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island for their support of families, and to Jesse’s mom, Sheri, for creating such a powerful legacy from her own personal hardship. Jesse’s House will take the worry of accommodations away so families can focus their energy on their loved ones receiving care.”

The project’s lead architect is Alan Lowe, who also designed the Foundation’s two other homes, Jeneece Place and Q’walayu House. Tectonica Management Inc. of Nanaimo is the project’s construction manager.

Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island is working with a dedicated committee and dozens of community partners to help make this dream a reality.

Learn more and donate at islandkidsfirst.com.

A flamingo by the name of Mango at Victoria Butterfly Gardens recently celebrated his golden jubilee birthday.

Mango has been part of Victoria’s cultural landscape for decades. Originally seized by Canadian authorities after being smuggled from Cuba to Toronto, Mango was brought to Victoria’s iconic Crystal Garden Tropical Conservatory, where he quickly became a fan favourite.

When the conservatory closed in 2004, Mango and his bonded partner, Houdini (another male Caribbean flamingo), were relocated to Victoria Butterfly Gardens. Houdini has since passed away, leaving Mango as the patriarch of his flamingo pad. Though territorial, he welcomes thousands of human visitors each year, offering a glimpse into the beauty and personality of his species.

“Folks who saw him at Crystal Gardens are astonished that he’s still kicking and looking fabulous,” says Travis Budgeon, a horticulturalist who has been looking after Mango for years.

“I interact with him several times a day and always get cuddled before I leave.”

Mango is a Caribbean flamingo (also known as an American flamingo), a species native to the Yucatán Peninsula, northern South America and Caribbean islands. While these birds typically live up to 30 years in the wild, Mango has far surpassed that, making him one of, if not the, oldest living flamingo in the world.

His milestone age is a testament to the dedicated care he receives at Victoria Butterfly Gardens, where staff provide a customized non-slip habitat and a specialized diet to keep him healthy and vibrant. Known for his trumpets, honks and grunts, Mango is more than just a resident, he’s an ambassador for his species and he’s developed a special bond with Budgeon.

“The bond was unexpected and I cherish it,” says Budgeon.

“I’m a horticulturist and an emotional-support human for an elderly flamingo. Best job ever.”

Mango’s story reflects the broader mission of Victoria Butterfly Gardens: providing a haven for rescued and adopted animals, inspiring conservation awareness and offering immersive tropical experiences to visitors of all ages. Victoria Butterfly Gardens is also home to thousands of tropical butterflies, free-flying birds, koi, tortoises and a wide range of rescued animals. Visitors can explore a lush indoor ecosystem filled with tropical plants, waterfalls and unique creatures from around the world. Learn more at butterflygardens.com.

From struggling to read and falling asleep every time she opened a book to an accomplished writer with 11 books in print and tens of thousands of copies sold. The story of Victoria author Kathleen Arnason is an inspiring one.

“I know what it feels like to struggle, and I wanted children to experience the joy of reading without fear or shame,” she says.

Arnason has been writing for 36 years, starting with her book The Story of the Gimli Huldufolk in 1993 when she was living in Gimli, Manitoba. The book was written to bring attention to and support the restoration of the Gimli Public School. When she moved to Victoria 19 years ago, she was inspired to write a book called Remember Me to help children deal with grief.

Helping children is a common theme in Arnason’s work. As someone who struggled with dyslexia in her childhood, but wasn’t diagnosed until her late 50s, she is now using her knowledge about the disorder to help young readers.

“I want every child to know: if reading is hard, it’s not the end of the world. You may just be one of the people who help create a new one,” she says.

“I don’t want anyone with dyslexia to feel ‘disabled.’ I want them to be themselves and if they need help, I hope I can help.”

Arnason has recently finished a trilogy called The Gimli Huldufolk Chronicles. The books are written using a dyslexic font, created by two engineers in Belgium. A dyslexic font is a typeface designed to improve reading for people with dyslexia by using features like heavier bottom lines, unique letter shapes and increased spacing to reduce letter rotation and confusion.

“All I can say is that when I sat down and read my own book in that font—with its spacing and shadowing of letters—my life changed immediately. What I felt was pure joy,” she says.

Arnason adds that the disorder is not as uncommon as people might think and many of the writers she has coached over the years are also dyslexic.

“Dyslexia comes with some incredible gifts. Dyslexic thinkers can move from problem to solution in detail in the blink of an eye. Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. More often than not, dyslexic people are resilient, imaginative and persistent.”

These are qualities Arnason often embodies in her characters as well.

The Gimli Huldufolk Chronicles blend Icelandic folklore and Canadian settings to tell the story of mystical beings known as Huldufolk. The books follow these hidden people as they undertake quests, battling dark magic and seeking to protect their world and the human world.

“Canada is a country woven together and built by immigrants from around the world,” Arnason says.

“In my trilogy, I use real locations, often real people, and I weave the story. I researched folklore and community lore across Western Canada and integrated it into the books.”

For example, there is a blue faerie said to live in the trunk of a huge cedar tree near the Tea House in Stanley Park. She is said to collect tears of joy and sorrow—sprinkling the tears of joy onto those who are sad. Some of the other real locations in the books in the trilogy include Winnipeg, the hoodoos in Alberta, Manitoba and Victoria.

It took Arnason three years to finish the chronicles as she explored many of the locations in the story to get a sense of the settings.

“I went to Nelson to find Slocan and Mount Gimli. I climbed to the base camp, and the whole hike filled my heart,” she says.

Arnason adds that in addition to the literal and figurative adventures her books take her on, the most rewarding part of being a writer is knowing she is making a difference in children’s lives.

“The biggest gifts I’ve ever received are letters and messages from mothers thrilled that their children have fallen in love with reading and they attribute it to my trilogy,” she says.

If her love of helping children and penchant for all things magical have intrigued you, meet Arnason in person at a book signing at Indigo at Mayfair Mall in Victoria on November 2 from 1 to 4 pm or at Chapters in Nanaimo on November 9 from 1 to 4 pm. Learn more about her work at huldufolkhouse.com.

The Province of British Columbia launched a publicly funded in-vitro fertilization (IVF) program in July.

As of July 2, eligible BC residents have access to one-time funding of up to $19,000 toward the cost of a single standard IVF cycle, including treatment and medications.

“Knowing that the government is stepping in to help with funding makes a world of difference,” says Rachelle Pastilha, an IVF patient in BC who was diagnosed in 2008 with endometriosis.

“It brings real hope—not just for us, but for so many others out there who are going through the same thing. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. This means more than words can say—for my family, and for countless others.”

Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization, one in six people globally are affected by infertility over the duration of their reproductive lives. IVF is a fertility treatment that includes a complex set of procedures that can lead to a pregnancy. IVF costs an average of $20,000 per round and many people need two to three rounds to be successful.

“For people needing to access IVF care to start a family, the costs can make it simply out of reach,” says Josie Osborne, BC Minister of Health.

“Being able to have a child shouldn’t depend on how much money you make. That’s why today we are launching BC’s first-ever, publicly funded IVF program that will ensure more people can access this life-changing treatment and bring hope to thousands of British Columbians on their path to parenthood.”

Fertility clinics that are participating in the publicly funded fertility program will submit applications on behalf of their patients to the Ministry of Health. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received, with provincial funding provided directly to a patient’s fertility clinics to limit up-front costs. BC will deliver the program through Olive Fertility Centre, Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Grace Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.

“This is a monumental moment for individuals and couples struggling with infertility, who dream of starting or growing their families but rely on advanced fertility services,” says Niamh Tallon, clinical medical director at Olive Fertility Clinic.

“The BC government’s new funding initiative acknowledges the significant financial barriers many face. By addressing these challenges, this program is a critical step toward ensuring more equitable access to fertility care, aligning BC with other provinces that have already embraced similar measures.”

Funding amounts will be based on household income. Households with a pre-tax income of $100,000 or less will be eligible for the full $19,000, with benefits phasing out for households earning more than $250,000. The Province estimates that the program will fund between 1,100 and 4,500 IVF cycles, with the funding available this fiscal year.

Laura Spencer, certified fertility coach, says she was elated to hear that public IVF coverage was finally coming to BC, but was disappointed to learn that coverage is tied to income and not medical need.

“I feel equal parts joy for the people who are fully covered with the $19,000, and heartache for those who are ineligible due to income, age or the long wait times,” she adds.

“IVF isn’t a luxury; it should be considered the same as any other medical treatment.”

To be eligible for the program, individuals must be at least 18 years of age, 41 years of age or younger at the time of application and enrolled in the Medical Services Plan.

Learn more about the IVF program at gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/ accessing-health-care/publicly- funded-ivf-program.

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but if there was one universal truth to tuck in our back pockets, it might be this: When in doubt, play.

Most of the time when our children have a problem (whether they are a crying baby, complaining middle schooler or mopey teenager), the situation can be improved by getting creative and “shaking things up a bit.”

The cure for their woes isn’t another gadget or activity packed calendar. It’s something simpler, more powerful and always available: play, imagination and creativity—for all ages.

Have a fussy infant on your hands? Skip the complicated tricks and try making a silly face. A giggle might be just what they need. When your elementary-aged child declares that everything is “boring,” instead of stopping what you are doing to entertain them, ask them to help you solve a problem, or crank up the music for a living-room dance party.

Tween and teens need play too—though they might roll their eyes at the suggestion. While it’s tempting to let them zone out in front of a screen for hours, sometimes the best cure for that glazed-over look is a spark of creativity. Story games at the dinner table, listening to a podcast or starting a project together reminds them (and us) that play doesn’t end when childhood does.

Then there’s the universal phrase every parent knows all too well: “I’m bored.” Whether from a preschooler or teen, boredom is not the enemy—it’s a gift. Let them “be in it.”

The imaginative play, storytelling or idea to make something that comes out of sitting in the uncomfortable feeling of having nothing else to do, can transform that dull moment into something memorable.

And letting go of the feeling, that you need to constantly entertain your child, is a huge win for you too!

Parents aren’t immune to ruts either. The daily grind can leave us feeling drained and disconnected. The answer? Socialization. Thinking outside the box about how we gather with friends and other parents helps us build our village. A potluck picnic at the park with friends, an extended family hike or talking to a parent that you connect with at school pick-up can turn ordinary afternoons into something extraordinary.

So, the next time your child (or you) seems stuck, remember this simple truth: play is not just for kids. It’s the secret ingredient for joy, connection and resilience at every age.

When in doubt, play.

– Stacie Gaetz

As the school bells begin to ring across Vancouver Island, families are preparing for more than just packed lunches and frantic mornings. Amid the early alarms, forgotten permission slips and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most: connection and well-being for our children and for ourselves.

This season, we invite you to approach the back-to-school transition through the lens of wellness and connection.

From the seemingly simple task of getting dinner on the table each night to the complex intricacies of after-school restraint collapse, this season can feel heavy. Add in school supplies, clothes shopping, friend and teacher drama, struggles with learning new material, the return of extracurriculars, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

But wellness isn’t just a buzzword here; it’s a practice. The hard truth is: All these things are here to stay so it is up to us to prioritize wellness. It should be a daily practice that begins at home. From nurturing mental health to creating meaningful family rituals, it’s imperative to slow down, reconnect and build resilience as a family—even when life feels a little chaotic. It involves noticing when our kids (and ourselves) are falling apart and learning how to be there for them in ways that builds resilience, self-responsibility and curiosity.

Whether you’re a seasoned parent helping their teenager navigate their upcoming birthday party or reaching the end of your pregnancy and wondering how to navigate the birth, it’s time for an honest conversation.

The key to a fall where wellness comes first is mindfulness. We invite you to pause, breathe and rediscover the joy and strength that comes from staying connected to your kids, your community and yourself. There will always be before-school tantrums, forgotten lunches and homework havoc but there can also be possibility, purpose and presence.

– Stacie Gaetz

If there’s one universal truth about parenting, it’s that nothing ever goes exactly as planned. From the moment you see those two pink lines, your life becomes a whirlwind of lists, logistics and late-night Googling.

There are registries to build, bottles to sterilize, diapers to buy, schedules to follow—and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, life throws in a surprise.

Maybe it’s a mid-commute diaper explosion that sends you racing to the nearest store, a carefully organized sleepover derailed by a sudden case of the sniffles or a teen who suddenly “hates you” and “is never leaving their room again!”

Parenthood, for all its planning, is a masterclass in adapting on the fly. Something that comes as a hard lesson for Type A parents like me who like to feel that they are in control.

As kids grow, calendars fill up: baby classes give way to preschool, elementary school, sports, music lessons, summer camps and the ever-growing list of social commitments. Add in holidays, family events and the occasional cross-country trip to visit loved ones, and it’s clear—parenting is a full-time juggling act.

And that’s before you factor in the unexpected worldwide events we’ve all endured—a pandemic, global instability, unprecedented inflation…. It’s enough to make anyone feel like they’re just barely holding it together.

So, what do we do, as the grown-ups who are supposedly steering the ship? How do we provide our kids with a safe, secure environment to grow up in when we feel completely lost at sea?

We adapt. We find joy in the mess. We teach our children resilience not by talking about it, but by living it. We take the sad detours and turn them into adventures. We turn our pain into poetry. We speak honestly about burnout, caregiving and the hard work of breaking cycles and forging new ones.

We learn to laugh, to breathe, to embrace the unpredictability—we ride the waves. Because maybe the point isn’t to have everything under control—but to find meaning, connection and even a little fun in the unpredictable chaos of parenting.

– Stacie Gaetz

You read that headline right. This quote from Tina Payne Bryson got my attention.

I was recently invited to a presentation titled Parenting with the Brain in Mind by Payne Bryson, PhD, clinician, consultant and internationally recognized co-author of The Whole Brain Child.

As she walked across the stage and said these 10 unusual words, you could see every parent in the room snap to attention.

She followed this innovative thinking with another impactful quote, “When we ‘flip our lid,’ it is actually beneficial to our kids.”

“When I flip my lid, I force myself to look into my children’s faces,” says Payne Bryson.

“I remind myself that I am their safe place, and what I did was not okay. Then I can choose to encourage them to make fun of me, ‘Wow! That wasn’t okay, was it? Let’s reenact what I looked like!”

“And I can model putting my hand on my chest and one on my belly and taking a longer exhale than inhale. I can apologize and ask for a do-over.”

The concept that we can and should repair our bonds with our kids when we make a mistake should be more talked about and celebrated. Parents today are the first generation that is actively working on repairing ourselves so we can be better for our kids.

“When we reflect and find meaning in our own history, we can move forward,” says Payne Bryson.

We are reading books, watching videos and webinars, listening to audiobooks and podcasts to do everything in our power to make sure our children feel safe. When you are putting that much time and energy into something you care about so deeply, you need to hear that it is okay if you don’t get it right every time.

We want our children to know that our love and attention doesn’t depend on them never making a mistake. In fact, making mistakes is the most effective way for their brain to learn.

We want them to apologize when they have wronged someone, and we want them to work to make it right. How do we ever expect them to do that if we don’t model that behaviour? The old adage “do what I say, not what I do” just doesn’t fly anymore. So, if we want them to take ownership when they have done something wrong, we must do the same—over and over again.

This works the other way too. We need to model forgiveness and empathy as well.

Payne Bryson mentioned something else that really hit home for me during a story she told about her son when he was younger. She said she picked him up from school and told him she was taking him to the movie theatre, but his initial excitement melted away and he acted out when she told him they couldn’t get popcorn.

“At that moment, I was thinking, ‘If he is this spoiled, no one is ever going to give him a job and he is going to be all alone and live in a van by the river and…’ Does anyone else catastrophize like this?”

Her point was that she was tempted to scold him for acting “spoiled” but her reaction would have been in response to how she was feeling about the situation, not the real reason behind his behaviour. See our story about systems feelings by Dr. Allison Rees on page 10 for more on this.

We can ask our kids why something is upsetting them and get to the root of the problem. We can be there for them. We can show up. We can teach them that relationships are messy but that doesn’t mean they are over.

That way, even when they are watching us freak out, they know it is going to be over soon, and we will come to them and make it okay. Allowing us to still be their safe place, even on our hardest day.

This is such a refreshing take for me and something I think many parents need to hear.

Our kids need to know that it is okay if they make mistakes and that we will be there for them no matter what. Many of us did not have that (or apologies) from our parents when we were growing up, so we are all learning how to open this line of communication together. And it’s expected to make mistakes when you are learning something new.

Payne Bryson ended her presentation by saying, “What your children need most from you is you; flawed you, imperfect you, freaked out you… You are the key to helping them feel safe, seen, soothed and secure.”

Now take a moment and read that quote again.

Deb Balino was in the height of “mom burnout” in January of 2024 when she applied for the TELUS STORYHIVE Video Podcast Program.

Balino is a mother of two, homeschool teacher to a child with unique needs, caregiver to her elderly parents and on a journey to navigate her own neurodivergence. She was looking for somewhere to turn for advice, help and a sense of community when it occurred to her that she couldn’t be the only one who felt so overwhelmed and lost.

“I was at the height of my burnout,” she says. “I used to be this fun, dynamic person and then I had my ‘smalls’ (as I call them) and now I am a burnt-out, tired mom. I know I can do better, and I know I am not the only one feeling like this. I lost my sass, and I wanted to find a way to get it back!”

Her video podcast Sass & Small Talk takes a deep dive into the realities of modern parenting—particularly the challenges of playing an active role in the sandwich generation, navigating neurodivergence and juggling the emotional weight of caregiving. The series features diverse voices, including mental health professionals, late-diagnosed neurodivergent parents, caregivers and community advocates, all sharing their personal stories and expertise.

Balino started the Sass & Smalls blog in 2022 to “let it all hang out” and sees the video podcast as a natural extension of her website.

“I was dealing with a child with high needs, taking care of my parents, homeschooling, managing the aftermath of the pandemic, trying to cope with a history of pregnancy loss and infertility and figuring out everything else life throws at you,” she says.

“I created the blog because I wanted to use my gift of gab to help people find resources and get help.”

Sass & Small Talk

Sass & Small Talk season 1 premiered on April 8 on TELUS Optik TV, Stream+, and STORYHIVE’s Youtube Channel.

Since 2013, TELUS STORYHIVE has supported a community of thousands of local content creators across BC and Alberta, providing over $66.9 million in production funding and creating a safe space for storytellers to hone their skills and bring the projects they care about to life.

Produced with the support of the TELUS STORYHIVE Video Podcast Program for emerging podcasters in BC and Alberta, this series brings raw, insightful conversations to the forefront. It highlights how families in Victoria navigate the complexities of caregiving, career demands and personal fulfillment, while managing the mental load of modern life and parenthood.

“I wanted to bring people together and share their authentic lived experiences,” says Balino.

“By sharing these stories, we are providing hope.”

She brings personal experience and deep empathy to the conversations in her podcast.

“This is who I am supposed to be,” she adds. “It brings me such happiness to know I am helping but also to feel validated. The fact that the professionals at STORYHIVE thought I have what it takes to be a storyteller and a guide in this way means something.

“I think many people—women in particular—are critical of what they put out there in the world but what we have to say has value and owning that is how we get our sass back!”

With a focus on real, locally reflective stories, Sass & Small Talk offers genuine inspiration for parents, caregivers and individuals struggling to balance multiple roles. Through candid conversations, the podcast explores strategies for overcoming burnout, redefining purpose and rediscovering joy in parenthood.

“In a world where burnout feels inevitable, I wanted to create a space for honest, unfiltered conversations about the struggles of parenthood—especially the challenge of maintaining our sense of self and purpose while caring for others,” says Balino.

“This podcast is about finding humour in the chaos, self-compassion, building community and redefining what it means to thrive—not just survive. Ultimately, it’s about reclaiming joy in parenthood, and getting that ‘sass’ back.”

Sass & Small Talk has been picked up for a second season that will focus on The Many Faces of Parenthood and explore the diverse parenting journeys in Victoria and beyond.

For more information, visit storyhive.com.

As the mom of a 10-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son, one of the hardest lessons for me to teach my kids is about consequences.

It’s not that the concept is particularly complex, in fact, it is incredibly simple and straight forward. Your actions result in a reaction—it’s Newton’s Third Law.

The difficult part is holding yourself back from interfering when you know your child’s decision is going to result in a negative consequence.

As parents, protecting our children is deeply entrenched in us, but there comes a time when you must let them “figure it out on their own.” The best teacher is experience and there are certain lessons they can only learn through doing.

For example, they are much more likely to grab their jacket on the way out the door the next time after they have spent an hour shivering outside because they refused to bring/wear it the last time. You can tell them it is cold out and they need a coat until you are blue in the face; they need to experience the biting chill for themselves so they will reach for the sweater the next time.

But was leaving the coat at home the “wrong” decision? The concept that there are no wrong decisions, only different life experiences, is an interesting one.

We spend all their young years trying to teach our children how to make the “correct” decision. How to do what’s “right.” It is a cruel irony that the most effective way to do this is by first experiencing what’s wrong. This is how we all learn, how we grow.

Good parents want to protect their children from everything but doing so would be a huge disservice to them. Sometimes our kids need to be uncomfortable, wrong, hurt, cold and mad because these are all parts of the life we are trying to prepare them for.

Whether they are trying (and failing) to make friends, starting out as a young entrepreneur (with a less than fool-proof product) or headed off to sleep-away camp (maybe before they are ready), we must let them fail.

Being a great parent, isn’t about making sure they don’t fall, it’s about being there to help them up when they do.

– Stacie Gaetz