Launch Day & What Came Next

Written By The CLE Family Collective

It Takes a Village

You know the saying “It takes a village”? It’s never felt truer than on launch day. My sweet angel of a mom came over to watch the baby so I could finally go live.

I had everything scheduled and ready to go. I thought, “This should take an hour.” Spoiler: it did not.

My drafts disappeared (definitely user error). I rebuilt them. Then came the moment of truth - clicking “publish.” I sat there feeling wildly vulnerable. Here was months of work about to be out in the world for anyone to judge. I just hoped people wouldn’t scroll by and think, “Cool… eye roll.”

But that’s not what happened.

The First Week

Here’s what went live:

  • 7 Guides: Fall in Cleveland, Family Memberships, Sensory-Friendly Activities, Museums, 50+ Rainy Day Activities, Playgrounds & Parks, and Local Drive-Thru Spots.

  • Events Calendar: 20+ events that very first weekend.

  • Resource Hub: Local nonprofits and programs supporting families.

  • Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok (@CLEfamilies - join us!).

That night, my husband came home from work with beautiful flowers, including hydrangeas (my favorite) and we celebrated at Lakewood Truck Park with family and friends. I was so excited… until the food truck I wanted didn’t show up, our toddler hit an overtired wall, and we had to leave early to avoid a meltdown.

It wasn’t the picture-perfect launch I’d imagined, but honestly, that feels right. That’s parenting. You pivot, adjust, and sometimes end the night crying in a drive-thru.

Real Numbers, Real Feelings

In the first 7 days:

  • Over 650 social followers

  • Almost 2,000 page views from nearly 1,500 unique visitors

  • 29 email subscribers

That last one doesn’t feel great. I debated not even sharing it because it feels a little embarrassing. But the Collective is about honesty and community, so I’m sharing it anyway.

And here’s why:

  • A former classmate reached out to say she’s taking a short career hiatus to focus on family and that this site came at the perfect time.

  • A family member told me she’d shared my Sensory-Friendly Events Roundup with a Facebook friend looking for autism-friendly Halloween activities and it helped her.

That’s what this is all about. It’s about the people that this is helping and people need help in different ways.

The Heart Behind It

Thank you for cheering on this little dream. The heart behind The CLE Family Collective is simple:

more ease, more access, more together.

If this project saves you a search, sparks a new favorite Saturday, or helps your family feel more included, then you’re exactly who it’s for.

How You Can Help

  • Subscribe to the newsletter (our first one is planned for next week - no spam, just high-value roundups).

  • Share the site with a friend or parent group.

  • Tag us when you’re out and about: @CLEfamilies.

  • Submit an event or correction - it’s a living resource and your input matters.

See you out there, CLE.
💙 Kayla

The CLE Family Collective
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