Family Hiatus

Our story

From August 2009 through July 2010, our family lived and worked alongside people with special needs on a biodynamic farm in Ireland.  This is our story.  One year of posts and an occasional post-script as we reflect on how the experience has changed us.

We were house parents.

We experienced the joys of living with people with special needs; we were challenged and stretched by being in a life sharing anthroposophical community.

We met some very special people -- students, villagers, co-workers, parents, teachers, friends.  We explored Ireland and traveled the British Isles.  We had a grand adventure!

p.s. Florida

We returned to Florida after our family hiatus in Ireland.

You can find us over here:

Lovely Ordinary Days

 

We're plotting our next adventure in between work, laundry, homework, etc.

And then there were none

We said our last goodbyes to students yesterday -- Dermot and Thomas.  We drove Dermot home and spent most of the afternoon with his family.

Dear Dashing Dermot,

We will miss you.

XOXO

 

By late last night, Thomas was on his way home.

Now, there are empty chairs in a big quiet house and we are no longer house parents.

 

It's been raining since Thursday.

With the exception of winter snow, it's the worst weather I think we've had all year.  Good for the plants, bad for day-tripping.  We're heading to Limerick for the weekend and may or may not go anywhere else in Ireland before we leave for the States next week.

So, I think this is 'the end.'

I'm ready to go home.

Running errands

Church bells ringing for Mass --

In the village --

 

 

Stone walls, green grass, and cows --

 

Hedges --

This dog.  This dog who has chased my car a thousand times but refused today (I even revved the engine a bit...)  Farewell, my worthy opponent --

The Parting Glass

We had a co-worker dinner last night at a local restaurant -- our last chance to have dinner together as a team.  Folkje drove us into town in the big orange van so there was no problem with drinking.  The sangria was delicious.

The food was great.  It's common for better restaurants in Ireland to provide a list of their local Irish suppliers.  We all laughed to see that we were still eating the same vegetables and eggs that we would have back at the house -- you can never escape.

 

Here's the last photo of a great team.  We ran a big house and tried to make a difference.  We didn't always get it right but we tried our best.  We laughed and cried but there was always more laughter than tears.

We set sail for new adventures next week -- medical school, internships, teaching, and where ever else our paths may lead us.

Packing Consultant

One of our housemates happens to be a math professor on sabbatical.  She's now our measurement consultant...

Stuff

Here we go again.

 

 

Where did all of this stuff come from?  I've been deliberately not collecting stuff since we arrived.

Then again, there was Christmas and five birthdays, and trips here and there, and before you know it -- you've got a lot of stuff to pack.

In addition to the seven suitcases already packed and ready to ship on a slow boat from Ireland to Florida, I'm sending 4 large trash bags of used clothing and toys to a local charity shop.

That leaves 3 large suitcases plus carry-on items for the flight from Ireland to New York.  Should be a little easier than traveling with fifteen suitcases plus carry-on luggage on the way here (fingers crossed).

The Shrek dance

We went to see Shrek 4 in 3D.

When the movie was over and the credits were rolling, with 'Get Right Back to Where We Started From' blaring in the nearly empty theater...Dermot started to dance in front of the screen.

We had a few options:

1.    Pretend not to know him.

2.    Scold/threaten/demand that he stop.

3.    Join in!

I never want to forget the sight of Bill, Mary, Dylan, Julia, Karlijn, Marcello and me dancing with Dermot not caring what anybody thought or how ridiculous we must have looked.  It was a happy, carefree, wonderful moment.

Only Ella scolded me for being an embarrassment.

	Maxine Nightingale - Get Right Back to Where We Started From .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Sunday Drive: Blessington Lake

Quick and easy drive just to get out of the house and away from the laundry and packing.

Came across some interesting history when we passed a sign for the 'Children's Burial Ground'.  There is a marker and boulder in the middle of a field but nothing more.  I researched it later and found that it was probably a Quaker burial ground.  Quite a bit of Quaker history in Ireland since at least the 1600's.

The view from the field --

 

Driving around the lake --

 

 

 

The rest of this week we'll be packing, cleaning, organizing, shipping, etc., and saying goodbye to Aine O., Liam, Dermot, and Thomas.

Next weekend we'll do some visiting in Limerick and perhaps take one last day trip to Galway.  I've been wanting to get back to Galway ever since our trip with students in December.

Students leaving

It's bittersweet.

Saying goodbye to students as they leave for their summer holidays.  They are so happy to be going home and we are happy for them and yet so sad to be saying goodbye...

By this time next week, all of the students will be home.  We will no longer be house parents.

Reflecting back on my first impressions of our students, and how my feelings have changed...or not.  Feeling grateful for all that I have learned.

Aine O.  She earns respect.  She's hard working and always does her best.
Her parents received a diagnosis this year, 29 years later, which was amazing to me having learned about my own child's diagnosis within hours of birth.

Aine has taught me the importance of perseverance and hard work.

Aine R.  A young woman finding her voice and making her way in the world.  The pages of dietary restrictions and other issues are more her mother's than her own and that's a whole other story and lesson learned.

Aine has taught me the importance of being present and connecting with others.

Rachel is pretty.  That's where the accuracy of my first impression ends.  She is not always quiet, shy, or withdrawn.  Her smile is beautiful but not rare.  It took me a long time to get to know Rachel but it was certainly a very rewarding and wonderful surprise once I did.

Rachel has taught me about patience.

Maggie.  My first impression was close but not on target.  She is lovely.  Her laugh is one of the loveliest sounds in the world.  She is highly capable.  However, she's not as shy and self-conscious as I thought.  She's just reserved.

Maggie has taught me not to judge a book by its cover and the wonder of friendship regardless of individual backgrounds.

Karen.  Getting to know Karen was a challenge.  There were times when I wondered if I would ever have an easy relationship with her.  In truth, there were times when I avoided her because she was so challenging to me.  In the end, Karen taught me more than anyone here.  And, I grew to love and admire her and seek out her company.

Karen taught me that truly getting know a person takes time, effort, and understanding.

Liam did not live up to his reputation.  He is sweet and sensitive.  He was helpful and fun to be with. 

Liam taught me not to listen to what other people say.

Thomas.  A warm and gentle soul.  A true individual.

Thomas taught me to 'let it be' and to respect others needs whether I understand them or not.

Dermot.  I have enjoyed every loud and wonderful meal, outing, walk, and ordinary moment with Dermot.

Dermot taught me to live my life to the fullest.

Another chapter from "Life on a farm"

If we have any more playdates this year, we will not be visiting the pigs.

We don't have a pig bucket under the sink anymore for non-compost food scraps.

We had ham for dinner...

 

 

Since we arrived, we've seen the life cycle of beef cows, from birth (and another birth) to freezer, literally.  I can't say that I'm hardened to the process or that it doesn't make me a little uncomfortable, because it does, but my attitude has changed.

I feel far more connected to my food and appreciative of the work that goes into raising a healthy animal, humanely.  I 'get' why organic/grass fed/biodynamic beef costs more and believe it's worth it.

I also appreciate that raising animals is someone's livelihood and farms contribute greatly to the landscape and culture of Ireland.

We sing this song together before every meal:

For sun and rain and grass and grain,
For all who toil on sea and soil,
That we may eat our daily bread,
We give our loving thanks to God.

May the meal be blessed.

At the end of every meal, we say together:

Thank you for the meal.

So, farewell little piggies and thank you for the meal.