The Barn

Over the last few weeks we’ve been reintroducing you to the Bird & Bear. Today let’s talk about where the spot where we began ~ the barn in my backyard.

To do so, I thought I’d share an excerpt from my daughter’s college essay, which centered on the barn as the place where she, a soon-to-be class of 2024 graduate committed to university to pursue nursing, learned about care.Her words capture what we’ve seen can happen when you have a space, with an open door, and the impact it’s had on her childhood…

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“When I was six years old, just after the birth of my little sister and days before the Boston Marathon bombing, my family moved to a new home in our little town. We moved into a typical suburban colonial, with an atypical post and beam barn at the top of our driveway.

Over the past 10+ years, the barn has been at the epicenter of my life with friends, family, and our community. It has been a place for play, holidays, Girl Scout meetings and community service, soccer team pasta dinners, birthday parties, and even an outdoor classroom during quarantine. It is a simple space with big open doors, concrete floors, and some twinkle lights we hung from the rafters. This is the place where I learned about love, belonging, giving back, and caring for those around me.   

I may not have a barn wherever I go, but pursuing its spirit of care is what I'm most excited about as I think about the next chapter. 

Just as the barn is not limited to a single function, I am not defined by one sole purpose or label. As a teenage girl, I find myself embodying a multifaceted identity that goes beyond any singular label or role. Like the barn, I am more than just a teenage girl with one sole purpose; I am a dynamic individual with various interests, abilities, and potential.

Like a barn that stands solid, as a testament to inclusion and versatility, I am someone who continues to find strength as I evolve, learn, and grow, embracing the richness of others' perspectives and life experiences. I value the roots of my diverse interests, the adaptability of my character, and the importance of building connections with others.”

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This space matters a lot to our family and the Bird & Bear Collective. I’m not sure if the Bird & Bear would even exist if it wasn’t for the barn. And for that I’m grateful.

Now pass me a tissue as I wipe the tears that keep flowing as we march towards graduation…