When people learn that we live on the campus of a boarding school and have a house that is connected to a dorm, the reaction is predictable. You see, boarding schools are not as common here in the midwest as other parts of the country. “Wait… You live in a dorm? What is that like?” To tell you the truth, it is pretty wonderful. You see, we live in a house that is attached to a dorm because our School is a home away from home for our students. Though the goal is their increasing independence and ability to take care of themselves, they should never be without access to attentive adults. We invite the students to knock on our door whenever they need something. Sometimes, they need a spoon. Often, they have locked themselves out of their rooms. And occasionally, they just need an adult to notice them and ask them about their day. We give a lot as a family to make sure our students get what they need. But we get so much more in return. I would love to tell you about my five favorite things about living on a boarding school campus. 1. The commute. Before moving to northern Michigan, I endured a typical commute to work. It was always necessary to build in time to account for traffic and construction. Now, I can get from my home to “work” with a short walk - less than five minutes unless I decide to stroll to the beach on the way. 2. Our colleagues. Seriously. We have the best colleagues in the world. You see, when we moved to northern Michigan, we move four and a half hours away from our families. Our colleagues immediately became our support system. And we became a part of theirs. It is such a gift to live and work with people who share your values, work hard together, and take care of each other. That leads me to my next favorite thing about living here… 3. It takes a village... Have you ever heard the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child?” In a time when people share so much on social media, yet feel increasingly isolated, it is a gift to have a community in which to raise our son. His five years of life so far have been filled with doting teenagers, four beautiful seasons to enjoy, and a belief that strangers are simply friends we haven’t met yet. My husband and I are immersed in gratitude for the guidance, support, and reassurance of our colleagues as we journey through parenthood. These wonderful people willingly snuggled our little one when he was baby so we could eat a meal with both hands, run and play with him, and take an interest in whatever holds his attention - trains, dinosaurs, legos, race cars, construction vehicles… 4. Sharing meals I might be biased, but I think the food at our school is the best around! The food is locally sourced, healthy, diverse, and beautiful; our colleagues in the food and nutrition program are incredible. Not only is it a relief from finding the time to plan meals and cook, it allows us the opportunity to share meals with our colleagues and students - a chance to put away our tech and really enjoy laughing and talking with one another. 5. The fun. Joy, play, and fun are essential components of educating students and this is critically true in the education of teenagers. This means taking advantage of the beautiful place we live and the affordances of four beautiful seasons. Whether we are catching a sunset on the beach, talking around a fire, making Rice Crispy treats in the dorm, sledding, or playing Bubble Soccer, our family gets to join in the fun! Sometimes, teens can find it uncomfortable or awkward to join in a silly game. But when a five-year-old grabs your hand and pulls you toward the dance floor, it is easier to shed your insecurity. Sharing a dorm with ninth and tenth grade boys can be loud, unpredictable, and a little smelly. It can also be heartwarming, humbling, exciting, and fun. For these reasons, we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
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August 2018
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