The Day it All Came Together

After listening to the problems and ideas I had to solve them, DeeDee (Muma 2) said she had somewhere to take me. As I told her about my transition/social skill program, I kept saying something was missing. I didn’t want to create another program that ended up looking like babysitting. I wanted all our kids to do something meaningful. I wanted the kids to create reciprocity with the community in a way which would make them experience feeling valued, needed and embraced for who they are. I wanted the end product to be something that would change the community so they needed us as much as we needed them. I had no idea what that would be.

When the community showed up to carry Anthony, I thought they were there for him. And I think at first, everyone was. But very quickly it became so much bigger. SO much bigger. The people who were helping felt great and got so much out of it for themselves. We watched hearts and minds open. Everyone felt important and was contributing to something really amazing.  Everyone was a part of the creation and the end result. That’s what I’m talking about. All our kids need that. And, I believe, our community needs it too.

DeeDee took me to Singh farms. This beautiful magical little place off the 101 and Thomas. We wandered around in awe searching for words about how perfect this warm glowing little spot was.

We saw fresh vegetables, a market with amazing little goodies, a hip yummy juice bar, happy relaxed people interacting and very proud chickens wandering all around. This was it. This was the context we were going to create our program in.

The variety of ways in which our kids could be involved and their strengths could be used were limitless! Farming, the science and technology of aquaponics, organizing, engineering, building, sales, making juices and food items, marketing, designing baskets, taking produce to restaurants, caring for animals… the list goes on.

DeeDee and I spent hours walking and tossing around all the possibilities; they were endless. I think it was official that day.

WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS.

 #ONESHAREDROOT