Caring for ourselves

a message from Executive Director Jamila Carter

As we move into November, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to care for ourselves and for one another. The fall season is a time of transition. It is also a time when many in our community are experiencing challenges, loss, and change in different ways. Through it all, I am inspired by how our community shows up with empathy, generosity, and love.

In early childhood education, we talk often about the importance of nurturing the whole child, including their curiosity, creativity, and emotional well-being. But we must extend that nurturing to ourselves. The children we care for thrive when they are surrounded by adults who feel grounded and supported. When we take time to pause, breathe, and restore, it ripples outward. Children feel it. They mirror it. They learn from it.

Our work is built on relationships and in our relationships we must be present. Sometimes the most meaningful thing we can model for children is what it looks like to slow down, to ask for help, to take a deep breath, or to find moments of joy even when things feel heavy. These small acts of self-kindness become lessons in empathy and resilience for the children watching us.

This month, I invite all of us to care for ourselves with the same gentleness and intentionality we offer others. Let’s check in on each other, celebrate the beauty in our work, and find moments to rest and renew. When we care for ourselves, we strengthen the foundation of care that holds our entire community together.

For anyone in need of additional support, Uplift Center for Grieving Children offers free grief support groups for youth and families throughout Philadelphia — including specialized groups for caregivers, Spanish-speaking families, LGBTQIA+ youth, and those navigating loss in unique circumstances. You can learn more and find details here.

With gratitude,

Jamila