Zephrine reflects on an inspiring day spent learning about LEGO facilitation. Zephrine also touches on personal growth, the importance of believing in oneself, and reconnecting with family. The video concludes with a vibrant, uplifting segment likened to a rollercoaster ride, emphasizing living life to the fullest and seizing new opportunities.

The Caregiver Burnout Resources Project is a vital initiative aimed at addressing the emotional and physical toll that caregiving can impose on individuals in Denver, Colorado.

Recognizing the significant challenges faced by caregivers, this project offers a range of resources designed to support their well-being.

Rooted in personal experience, The Caregiver Burnout Project strives to create a community where caregivers feel validated, empowered, and equipped to navigate their unique challenges.

As a parent to three neurodivergent teenagers, I have experienced significant burnout over the past two years. In December 2022, I realized my usual coping mechanisms were no longer effective. The constant feeling of being overwhelmed, overstimulated, and lacking support not only affected my well-being but also impacted my children's mental health and overall quality of life. To make matters more complex, back in 2018, our children's doctors shared that their father and I were also neurodivergent; we were too overwhelmed to pour into ourselves. Consequently, my spouse and I grappled with burnout in various aspects of our lives, straining all facets of our family life, our relationships and careers.

A turning point came when I attended the JFK Partners program of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of Colorado School of Medicine Caregiver Resiliency Webinar on caregiver burnout.

The Denver Mill Levy Program is truly a lifeline for many families (like ours), offering tailored assistance that encompasses both essential needs and enriching experiences. The program's multifaceted approach ensures that individuals with I/DD and their loved ones receive the support they need to thrive.

• Basic Necessities: ensures access to basic necessities such as housing, healthcare, and nutrition.

• Caregiver Support: provides respite and training for caregivers, allowing them to recharge and continue their vital work with renewed energy and skills.

• Community Engagement: facilitates community engagement through recreational activities, day programs, and social events, fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion.

Building a Compassionate Community

The Denver Mill Levy Program exemplifies the power of a comprehensive support systems. By addressing the diverse challenges faced by individuals with I/DD and their families, the program fosters a compassionate community where everyone is valued and supported. These initiatives alleviate immediate pressures and pave the way for lasting well-being and personal growth.

As a parent/caregiver, it's essential to avoid resembling "The Giving Tree," a tale depicting a one-sided and toxic relationship between a giving tree and a boy who constantly takes until the tree has nothing left to give. This narrative reflects the challenges of modern parenting and employment, particularly motherhood, where women often find themselves sacrificing their own well-being for their families and or organizations. This cycle contributes to the widespread burnout experienced by myself and many women I personally and professionally today due to unattainable societal expectations.

This cautionary tale emphasizes the significance of self-care and the need for a supportive community that values human beings and reciprocates caregiver efforts. By recognizing these parallels and addressing the root causes of burnout at its intersections, society can create an environment that appreciates and supports rather than deplete.

We are immensely grateful for this opportunity to expand our reach and create impactful content that fosters understanding and inclusivity. Stay tuned for more updates on our progress and upcoming projects!

Thank you for your continuous support! 💚

The International Day of Play campaign is coordinated by a network of organisations, initiated by the LEGO Group and the LEGO Foundation. We are driving a global play movement for children everywhere, for generations to come. Find out how our partners will be playing on June 11th and how you can get involved. #InternationalDayofPlay

Let's remember: sometimes, stepping back and nurturing ourselves is the most powerful way to move forward. 🌱

My tips for connecting with a mentor:

⭐ Be authentic about your personal and professional journey

⭐ Be curious about their personal and professional journey

⭐ Be flexible about your mentorship journey

🤔 What are we missing because we won't just move on? Sometimes pushing through is the answer. Although not this time.

🚚 I'm moving on.

🛣 I am realigning to my Why! 

We were trying to write this super fun Halloween share. But things are hard right now. Our family like many others are tired of All the things. We are experiencing anxiety and worry. Tired of being in the house, while grateful to have a home. We have little confidence in the people in charge. And yet we still need to raise our children, earn a thriving wage, and make the world a better place through food sovereignty.

The world is a pretty heavy place right now and I can't immediately change that (repeats to self a hundred times a day). Even prior to the pandemic I was stressed out and “work-life balance” was an unachievable goal.

Like so many other parents our children were with us all the time...in our home… work is now in our home...all the time. While we have been homeschooling since 2016 our kids had a very active family field trip schedule; libraries, gardens, farms, swimming pools, and trade skills camps, etc. prior to covid.

I am excited and also a bit stressed about our Sustainability Project. We had so many plans… pre "all the things" and now we are pivoting/salvaging. I know there is a lesson and every farm season goes according to a bigger plan....But I loved those imagined successes.

Our first season of homeschooling, homesteading and harvesting is in bloom! Are we doing too much? Likely!

So many lessons have been humbly learned, I am extremely grateful for this experience! Its been challenging, healing and affirming in ways I never imagined.

We have postponed starting our urban farm for 3 seasons, each time seemingly reasonable. This year I realized it was a fear of failure. Both Justin and I are recovering from perfectionism, and hate not being experts. But here is the truth as told to me by every farmer and book about farming...There will be failure! It’s how you recover. It’s how you prepare in times of prosperity. It’s the community you surround yourself with. It’s what you do for that community.

Even though it’s snowing in Denver, Spring is here! We are excited to continue farming lavender and medicinal herbs in partnership with Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms. While collaborating and supporting fellow farmers who encourage self-reliance and community-resilience in Denver and abroad. Always important, especially as we all figure out how to operate in our new normal.

The road to entrepreneurship has had its starts and stops, but it has been a sprint since April 2019. I am extremely grateful; and look forward to collaborating with my fellow veteran entrepreneurs and local business owners. Thanks to my ViR cohort, BunkerLabs and WeWork for helping me do what I love.

Not one of my plans for this summer worked out and it's for the best! I planned to break ground on our farm, and harvest local flowers all summer long. I wanted to be a part of the fixing food insecurity movement, but I just couldn’t make it happen. Then our summer travel plans fell through. I was annoyed, grumpy, and bored, with an unexpectedly cleared schedule.