Collaborative Beginnings

Unlike past experiences where I (egotistically) felt I had to do things all myself or they wouldn’t get done, I knew this was different. We are going to need lots of help and we are going to have to make this the community's project otherwise it will never sustain itself. I have enough experience to know now that my energy and fortitude has an ebb and a flow and there are times where I’m not sure which one I’m in the midst of. Just like I couldn’t carry Anthony alone.  I can’t carry this alone. I learned through the canyon experience as well as spending the last few years working with DeeDee to build a unique family dynamic, the real magic happens with collaboration.

For those of you who don’t already know, DeeDee is my wasband’s (Chris Castle) beautiful wife. We, as a modern family all work together. Chris, DeeDee, my boyfriend Doug, and the mother of his daughter, Liz are all partners. We all share parenting responsibilities. We spend holidays, family dinners, and events together. We all contribute our strengths and rely on each other for areas we struggle in. This may sound strange or even impossible to some, however we have all agreed it’s our best option. It was a choice we all consciously made. We chose (and continue to choose) to try to overcome petty differences so we can raise strong, collaborative, loving kids who have adults who set a great example of those lessons. It didn’t just happen and it takes work, honest communication and trust. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

And Like our family model, we see this project something amazing to share and build together for all our kids. 

With the concept of #ONESHAREDROOT in mind, Deedee and I started researching and meeting with everyone we could  think of. If we haven’t called you yet, hang on, I’m almost willing to bet you are on the list. We researched all the places in the country with similar models (there is nothing exactly like it). We spoke and traveled to many of the places over the spring and summer and asked lots of lots of questions. We gathered pieces many of the other models were missing to build a plan that attempts to fill all the gaps.  All we have gotten is support and encouragement.  And literally every person we have spoken with, has said this project is crucial, possible and they want to help.

In fact, this is starting to come together as if the plan was already written somewhere long ago and we are now just playing it out.