OSK COMMUNITY

Hi @Everyone ❤️ We want to celebrate the dads this weekend - if you want to give the father of your children a little shout out, please take a moment to upload 1 of your favorite photos of him to this Google Photo album. These photos will be shared on the OSK Instagram with a poetic essay written by @Trisha Pires 🫂

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yUCYS3Ewmxxp4QkC8

“Today was truly the best day. I had multiple moments of pure gratitude for my children, the community, and the entire day. What you've created is absolutely incredible and a thousand times better than I could have imagined. Thank you for making Wednesdays our favorite day!” Chills and profound fulfillment filled my heart. This day held deeper meaning.

Community heals. Embracing Otto's unique brilliance taught us that belonging isn't about fitting in—it's about being truly seen.

SUPPORT THE VISION and We Will Waive Your Membership

This summer, Ocean State Kids launches WILD by Design—an outdoor program designed for the wild, wiggly, and wonderfully curious! Completely outdoors (rain or shine), sessions are packed with sensory-rich play, movement-based learning, and hands-on exploration, empowering all children to grow naturally. From splashing at Sandy Point Beach to adventuring at Glen Farm, kids will dig, climb, slime, run, jump, and create while building confidence, social-emotional…

We live in a world that often fixates on weaknesses, especially when it comes to parenting and our children’s behavior. But lately, I’ve discovered a beautiful approach that flips this entirely upside down.

This weekend we visited a cozy Italian restaurant, and our waiter was a kind teenage boy who quickly observed the humorous chaos that comes with dining out with a toddler. Mid-meal, Otto kept escaping our booth, determinedly running toward—of all things—a restaurant trash can. Initially embarrassed, I chased after him, only to realize Otto was passionately reciting lines from Alice in Wonderland. In that moment, our waiter smiled knowingly, gently teasing, “Dealing with a flight risk?”

Instinctively, and perhaps overly assertively, I responded, “Oh no—he just has a brilliant imagination.”

Reflecting on my reaction later, I felt a mixture of embarrassment and pride. Embarrassed because of my assertive tone, yet profoundly proud for instinctively choosing to see…

As I put together the Ocean State Kids annual report, I’ve stumbled upon an unexpectedly emotional realization. I’m working on a page that outlines our nonprofit’s Primary Challenges—the hurdles we’ve faced and, more importantly, how we’ve overcome them together as a community. The title of this page? The Little Engine That Could. (Clever, I know. A few pages have some fun nods to beloved children’s books.)

Ocean State Kids has had its share of challenges—funding sustainability, unpredictable weather, land use, and the ever-growing need to manage capacity. The organization took off faster than I ever imagined in its first year, which was both exhilarating and overwhelming.

As I was drafting this section, I chose a photograph of my son, Otto, playing quietly with a small wooden train. That image, alongside the words The Little Engine That Could, hit me in a way I didn’t expect. Because, in so many ways, Otto is that…

I gave the Parent Portal a facelift today. I am trying to make this space easier to navigate, considering that all of us are constantly chasing children around. Everything you will need to stay involved with OSK, should be (or will be) on the Mobile app.

Also, if you haven’t read OSK member Trisha Pires journal entry yet, here is the link. I’m crying.

https://www.oceanstatekids.com/post/it-s-time-for-a-change-how-preschool-dimmed-my-daughter-s-spark