JUNE 2024
Upcoming Events
There are two Mock DWI Crash events this week, one at each of our high schools: Wednesday June 5, 9:30 AM at Thomas and Friday June 7, 9:30 AM at Schroeder. We made "Celebrate Safely" cards to hand out to students following the event. If you are able to join us for either or both events, please contact Janine.
Webster’s NY State Assemblyman, Brian Manktelow, is planning an electronics recycling event at the Webster Xerox campus, and has invited WHEN to include a drug take back at the same event on July 13, 8:30 AM - Noon. Save the date and watch for further details!
Webster Headlines
A very happy birthday to these WHEN members celebrating in June:
Beth P, Michelle M, Nancy S, and Juliana D.
With Dustin’s help, WHEN implemented a version of Family Game Night especially for WCSD Unified Basketball participants. Everyone had a blast!
WHEN recently hosted a parent forum titled, "Coffee & Conversation: Navigating the Tween Years". Attendance was lighter than we’d hoped, but the format, experience, participation, and feedback exceeded our expectations. Parents expressed a variety of needs and we hope to begin planning a series of events for the next school year to address the specific issues participants raised. If you would like to participate in planning, please contact Janine ASAP. In the meantime, we will be recommending helpful resources in our newsletters, starting with The Child Mind Institute's Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults section. Many thanks to our partner, Webster Parks and Recreation, for donating the space for this event!
Creating Balance
“Protective factors are conditions or attributes in individuals, families, and communities that promote the health and well-being of children and families.” - ChildWelfare.gov
Balancing priorities gives direction in our life and produce these protective factors: attachment and bonding to family, peers, and community, development of social and emotional control, and opportunities for prosocial involvement in the family.
By WHEN member, Judi Swanson, LCSW~R
“Balance is not something you find. It’s something you create.” - Jana Kingsford
Vocabulary.com defines balance as “having the right amount — not too much or too little — of any quality, which leads to harmony or evenness.” We all strive for balance in life so that our life priorities have the time, attention, and intention that promote wellbeing. With summer on our heels, there is much to do. The school year is ending. Parents and guardians are making choices about summer camps, activities, and vacations. Others might have a young person graduating from college or high school. Summer sports like softball, baseball, and kickball are in full swing. Just like the grass on our lawns that seems to grow right after it is mowed, everything is happening quickly and all at once!
“Don’t get so busy making a living you forget how to make a life.” - Dolly Parton
Taking time to determine your priorities is a step towards finding balance. An article in LifeBalance.org states, “One of the primary ways values and intentions manifest in life is through priorities. We create priorities based on the things that matter most to us. They give direction to our life. They help us set appropriate goals and rank them so that in any moment we know what we’re about and what we want to accomplish. They also help us allocate time and resources, organize activities, and make decisions.” Taking time to write down your individual priorities, and for those in relationships or with families creating a joint priority list, creates a shared focus on the priorities and balance you want in your life.
"Life will always get busy. Make time to do the things you love." - Lailah Gifty Akita
Focusing on basic needs for health such as sleeping, healthy eating (with a scoop of summer ice cream tossed in!), hydrating by drinking enough water, and regular movement sets the stage for wellness, for you and any loved ones in your life. Taking time to “smell the roses” brings joy and gratitude into your daily living. Use your priority list to guide decisions. Setting boundaries helps build healthy balance in your life. Feeling overwhelmed by too many graduation parties to attend? Modify how you attend. Limit the time you spend at the party, or even say no to some. The better we take care of ourselves the better we are to those in our lives. Leave space for impromptu stargazing nights, marathon reading days, looking for fireflies, or whatever fills you up and floats your summertime boat. You will be healthier, happier, and more balanced for it.
WHEN wishes all graduates congratulations. As Maya Angelou said, “Life loves to be taken by the lapel and be told, I am with you kid. Let’s go.’”
Spotlight
A hearty shout-out to MSgt Joseph Seaver and his team of volunteers who made our April 27 DEA National Drug Take Back event at the Webster Justice Court a great success. Over 400 pounds of medication were collected and safely disposed of. Thank you to all who volunteered to help out at the event, including: Ginny, Patti, Julianne, Jamie, Carolyn, Lauren, and Monroe County Legislator Mark Johns. We also thank the Town of Webster and Webster Police Department for their partnership in this effort.
Upcoming Meetings
Our next meeting is Wednesday, June 12 at noon. Register here to receive details for both in-person and online options.
We meet in person AND online via Google Meet the second Wednesday of each month at noon. Many of us join during our lunch break. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. In fact, our goal is to have representation from all walks of life, to better meet the needs of the whole community.
Read last month's Coalition Meeting Minutes.
Reminders
Parenting resource: Many of the parents attending our “Navigating the Tween Years” noted that they are in search of specific guidance about many issues that come up in the Tween years. One great resource we’d like to share with you is The Child Mind Institute's Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults section.