Holiday Reflections and New Year Intentions
Becky Schmidgall, Kinship Family Group Facilitator
After a busy holiday season and taking a break from monthly meetings in December, Seeds Community Center hosted its first kinship dinner of 2026 with its largest turnout yet! With eight families in attendance, including one new family, kinship caregivers had a much deserved opportunity to sit and enjoy catching up with each other and relaxing while kiddos played and learned in the children’s space.
Our topic of discussion this month was twofold: reflecting on the holidays and, with that reflection in mind, setting a personal word of intention for 2026.
Caregivers shared what went well over the holidays and what didn’t go so well. We held space for both gratitude and grief. Folks were able to support each other in their struggles and also celebrate their victories. Several caregivers expressed their appreciation for the holiday gifts from SCC, stating they wouldn’t have been able to provide such a lovely Christmas for their children without the support of Seeds.
Rather than attempting to set new year’s resolutions, which notoriously fail, we encouraged caregivers to identify one word they’d like to cultivate more of in the upcoming year, their personal “intention.”
Intention means choosing how time and energy are spent with greater care. It encourages thoughtful pauses before commitments, deeper alignment with personal values, and an understanding that doing less can sometimes create more space for what truly matters. It’s not about pressure or perfection, but about living with clarity and purpose.
Caregivers’ intentions were varied and encouraging. From “joy” to “fun,” “calm” to “thrive,” and “space” to “renew,” each person appeared hopeful when sharing their intention- even if they had experienced a difficult holiday.
Caregivers and youth alike were encouraged to create a memento of their chosen word, either in the form of artwork to hang in their car or as bracelet that could be wore throughout the year.
Our discussion was a testament to the power of positive thinking and the support of one’s community. The relationships we observe being established and fostered at our monthly kinship dinners are genuine and full of care and compassion. Kinship caregivers build each other up in a truly unique way.
As the new year begins, the goal isn’t dramatic transformation, but steady, meaningful growth. A life shaped by intention leaves room for presence, balance, and possibility—and that feels like the right place to start.
