Hey family! If you’re reading this, chances are you’re part of a very special, very strong group of women. Maybe you’re a grandmother who stepped back into the "mom" role when you thought you’d be retired, or perhaps you’re a great-aunt or a cousin holding down the fort for the next generation. Whatever your title, if you are raising a child in kinship care, I want to start by saying: I see you, I value you, and you are doing incredible work. 🧡
Raising a granddaughter comes with its own unique set of joys and hurdles. We want these girls to grow up knowing they are powerful, brilliant, and capable of anything, but sometimes the circumstances that bring us together in kinship care can leave them feeling a little "different" from their peers. That’s exactly why we created the Kinship Girls Club at Women United. We wanted a space where our girls could just be, where they could find sisterhood, learn new skills, and realize that their story isn't a limitation; it’s their superpower.
Today, I want to talk about one of our favorite ways we build that confidence: The Kinship Girls Club Lemonade Stand. It might sound like a simple summer activity, but for our girls, it is "Confidence 101."
The Magic of the Lemonade Stand ✨
When we first sat down to plan our community lemonade stand, we didn’t just want to sell some juice. We wanted to create an environment where our granddaughters could practice being leaders. In a world that often overlooks young girls of color, we are intentional about putting them in the driver’s seat.
Watching our girls organize the stand, which they affectionately named "Lovely Ladies Lemonade," is a masterclass in resilience. They aren't just pouring drinks; they are managing a business. They decide on the recipes (lots of sugar or a little tart?), they figure out the pricing, and they learn how to greet every neighbor with a smile and confident eye contact. This isn't just about entrepreneurship; it’s about taking up space.
For many girls in kinship care, there’s a tendency to want to stay small or stay quiet. But when they are standing behind that bright yellow table, wearing their "L.L.L." sweatshirts and shouting out "Ice cold lemonade!" they are learning that their voices matter. They are learning that they have something valuable to offer the community. We see their shoulders straighten and their smiles grow wider with every cup sold. It’s about tangible hope, seeing that their hard work leads to a real, sweet result.
Building Sisterhood: More Than Just Friends
One of the most beautiful things to witness at Women United is the bond that forms between the girls. In the Kinship Girls Club, no one has to explain why they live with Grandma or why their family tree looks a little different than the ones in the storybooks. There is an immediate, unspoken understanding.
We believe that sisterhood is a shield. When our granddaughters have a tribe of other girls who look like them and share similar life experiences, they feel less alone. This sense of belonging is the foundation of confidence. We encourage them to lift each other up, to cheer when a "sister" makes a sale, and to help out when things get busy. This cultural and emotional connection anchors them, giving them a firm place to stand when the world feels shaky.
One of our favorite symbols of this unity is the "Every Child Matters" movement. When our girls wear those bright shirts, they aren't just wearing a color; they are wearing a reminder that they are seen, loved, and protected by their community.
The Village Behind the Girls 🏠
We know that we can’t pour into the girls if the grandmothers are running on empty. At Women United, our mission is to support the whole family unit. We provide a space where grandmothers can gather, share resources, and exhale.
Being a kinship caregiver often means navigating complex systems while trying to heal your own heart and the hearts of the children in your care. It’s heavy lifting, but you don’t have to do it alone. We offer everything from healing art therapy classes to practical support like Hope’s Community Closet, where you can "shop with dignity" for the things your girls need.
We also know that staying connected in today’s world requires more than just a phone. That’s why we’ve focused on digital literacy. Seeing our grandmothers open up brand-new laptops isn't just about the technology; it’s about giving them the tools to advocate for their granddaughters, manage school appointments, and stay connected with their village.
Whether it’s making sure you have the technology to stay connected or providing a creative space through our Grandma’s Hands Art Therapy sessions, we are here to nurture you so you can nurture them. We believe in building dignity, empowerment, and collaboration for the whole family. In our Art Therapy sessions, the focus isn't just on the project; it's on the stories shared while we create and heal together.
Raising Confident Granddaughters: A Few Tips
If you’re looking for ways to boost your granddaughter’s confidence at home, here are a few things we’ve learned through our work with the Kinship Girls Club:
- Celebrate the Small Wins: Did she help with a chore without being asked? Did she try a new fruit? Acknowledge it! Specific praise builds a "competence bank" she can draw from when things get tough.
- Foster a Connection to Culture: Use our Afrocentric roots to anchor her identity. Show her images of strong BIPOC women, tell her stories of her ancestors, and let her know she comes from a long line of resilient, beautiful people. When she knows where she comes from, she’s more confident about where she’s going.
- Encourage Entrepreneurship: Even if it’s not a full-scale lemonade stand, let her "manage" a small task. Give her a budget for groceries or let her plan the menu for a family dinner. Leadership starts with small responsibilities.
- Listen with Empathy: Sometimes she just needs to feel heard. Validating her feelings about her family situation, without judgment, helps her feel safe and secure in her identity. Let her know that her feelings are real and that your home is a safe harbor.
- Connect Her with Peers: Find programs like ours where she can be around other children in kinship care. Representation matters! Seeing other families that look like hers normalizes her experience and removes the stigma of being "different."
Strengthening Skyway Families Together
At the heart of everything we do is the belief that every child matters. Whether we are hosting Backyard Socials or organizing back-to-school block parties, we are working to ensure that Skyway families have the resources and the community they deserve.
We don't do "pity" here; we do power. We don't do "handouts"; we do community care. When a granddaughter walks away from our lemonade stand with a little more pep in her step, we know we’re doing our job. We are strengthening the future of our neighborhood, one girl at a time. Events like the Love Train Back-to-School Party are essential for building this collective joy and resilience. There is nothing like the sight of our children picking out their own backpacks, surrounded by neighbors who are cheering them on.
If you’re a kinship caregiver in the Seattle area and you’re looking for a place where you and your granddaughter can belong, please reach out to us. We’d love to have you join our circle. Whether you want to volunteer, need some support from our community closet, or just want to hear more about our upcoming events, our doors—and our hearts—are open.
A Future Full of Tangible Hope 🧡
Raising a granddaughter in today’s world isn't easy, but doing it within a community makes all the difference. We are here to celebrate the milestones, provide the "essential" items like shoes and coats through Threads of Change, and most importantly, to remind our girls that they are loved beyond measure.
Let’s keep lifting each other up. Let’s keep pouring into these young queens. Because when we strengthen the "Village," we ensure that our granddaughters have the foundation they need to soar.
Stay strong, stay hopeful, and remember: we are in this together. ✨
