The Breakfast Club
You love to see it. Families congregating at drop-off in the mornings and lingering at afternoon pick-up. It’s the sign of the informal community of 3LPlace – or any healthy, thriving place, really – that springs up from our formal programming and time together.
And we’re seeing more of it, these days. Thanks to the welcoming people who take such good care of our members and one another.
Beth, for example, is a single mom. She’s also a cancer survivor who was still receiving treatment when her son Shousei joined 3LPlace.
“I had pink hair at the time and was obviously going through something,” she said. “Parents of children with autism can be an isolated group. Not many people can relate, and we can’t just pop over and see friends. But, coming out of COVID, out in that parking lot, was a huge social opportunity.”
It matches the huge opportunity that members experience. “There’s no program that even compares to 3LPlace. You can’t find this quality of staff anywhere.”
The food’s pretty good, too. Beth told us about Jeff, Marc’s dad, and his frequent deliveries of barbeque, chili, desserts, and even dog treats for other families. “He doesn’t think twice about sharing. He could be freezing it all for himself and making his days that much easier. It’s such a warm, sharing group.”
Staff see it, too.
“As we’ve grown, we have more variety of members, more families, and family members who don’t necessarily know each other as well as they might,” said Meghan Montgomery, 3LPlace’s Co-Executive Director. “But the parking lot scene erases so much of that in such a beautiful way. They’re in the thick of it together, and it’s so very inclusive of every member. Checking in when someone misses a day, passing along Tupperwares of chili and moments of advice. The invitations and embrace are so wide open.”
These days, those invitations include a monthly breakfast group. Several families commute more than an hour, and up to two hours, to 3LPlace. A meal at a neighborhood diner offers a physical break. But that’s the least of its importance.
“It gives us more time to talk, low key. But it also gives us time to talk about important things. Especially during the changes to the laws and changes to 3LPlace’s relationship with DDS [the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services], it was invaluable to have other people going through it,” Beth said.
As our group expands, the sense of togetherness and inclusiveness stays the same.
“The word ‘community’ comes up in many contexts with 3LPlace, and it’s not just the community between participants and staff…It also reaches out onto the front porch and into the parking lot as parents and caregivers get to know each other,” said Ed, dad to 3LPlace member John.
“Relationships are formed. Bonds are made. The next thing you know, a few families are going bowling and grabbing dinner together. Or parents and caregivers start having breakfast together. All of our stories are unique, and yet they are also what draw us together. It’s all part of the journey with 3LPlace.”
