We don't have hands-on family nearby. No grandparents down the road, no aunts or uncles on call. So when two spots opened at The Cridge Children’s Services in September 2018 (daycare for two-and-a-half-year-old Rupert and out of school care for four-year-old Fletcher, who was just starting kindergarten), it felt like winning the lottery. What we actually won was family.

Rupert had a rocky start with a lot of tearful mornings. But I'd hand my sobbing boy to genuinely loving staff (usually Jaesuk or Krista), and he'd calm down and have the best day. That first Christmas, knitters from the First Metropolitan United Church donated hand-knit sweaters for the kids in daycare, and toques and mittens for the bigger kids in school-age care. Rupert's sweater had delightful reindeer buttons and is still cherished in our house, now packed away as a keepsake. Fletcher's handmade toque and mittens were his uniform all that winter.As the boys grew, so did the team's interest in who they were becoming. We've had entire seasons of Magic: The Gathering and some truly ambitious Lego builds. The school-age staff got my kids to school even when they were nervous or Rupert was thoroughly sick of buses - thank you, Emily, for getting us through a few rough months. They tended every bump and bruise, both physical and emotional.

Then there's the magic of covering pro-D days, spring break, and summer camps: the scheduling nightmare every two-working-parent family knows too well. It allowed me to keep the career I enjoy without the guilt. We look forward to kicking off the summer with The Cridge Centre’s family afternoon: bouncy castles, activities, food, and more happy chaos.

Fletcher is finishing Grade 7 now, but thanks to Jess and Emily launching Thursday youth nights last year, he still gets his Cridge connection. Eight years, two boys growing up, one trusted extended family. Thank you, Cridge!