So the hardest part of this project for me is working with others. The goal is to work with people where they are, to accept them even with their limitations, but there is a limit to what is acceptable.
After closing the Chrysalis House in December several new ideas as to what the space should be used for began to emerge. Perhaps a place for student interns? Or maybe it could be used for a live in Community Liason. I put a post on Facebook letting people know that the space was available and we were looking for a live in assistant to help with programming at the Community House. The first girl who applies was someone I already knew. I liked her a lot. She clearly had talent, but she wasn't sober. After 3 days it was clear that she wouldn't be able to stay sober either. I was staying at the house with her, so that she wouldn't be alone, and so I had the chance to participate in the Saturday meeting. I rarely attend this meeting,not because it isn't a wonderful group of women, or that it isn't relevant to me, but because I have made a committment to be with my husband on the weekends. This time together is critical for our relationship. It was a great opportunity to connect with these ladies, and someone I had never met came in. She had a special glow about her. She was warm and open. During her share she spoke about being in a difficult living sitution. She said she was being kicked out of the house she was living in. I went up to her after the meeting and talked to her a bit more about her situtaion. I told her I was looking for a live in community assistant. I told her I had someone already in one of the rooms, but she could take the other. Then I found out she had a son, and a husband who would be coming home from prison soon. I told her to come back on Monday and we would talk. Right away there were so many synchronicities. The timing seemed divine. The match-up of her abilities to compliment mine was astounding. I had so much hope. So after a week of allowing the previous girl to figure out her new living situation, Sarah move in with her son. There were some initial challenges, but things started to work well. We had a wonderful opening week of the Art Garage, and started getting into the groove of the Ambassadors of Kindness. We even started planning an event. The Blueberry Ukulele Fest. I was filled with hope. Then her husband came home. She was elated, and I was enthusiastic since he also had so many complimentary skills. In particular he had skills in the trades. The dream of the first apprentice program began to live again. At first everything was wonderful. Patrick started building out the Art Garage, and it was going well, until one day when I tried to contact him about being on the job, I found out he wasn't there and he had taken the tools from the house. Actually, I had asked Sarah if he had the tools when I noticed they were gone, and she claimed he had not been in the garage and that they were probably stolen when "I" left the garage open. It was Friday and so the kids showed up for Art Garage. I asked them if they had seen anyone take any tools, and they said they had. I was heartbroken. I have dealt with a lot of stealing throughout the 6 years of running the Art Garage and Community House, but it still gets me every time. I filed a police report and moped around the rest of the day. That evening, Patrick and Jack started bringing tools into the garage. Patrick had taken the tools with him to his new job. I told him about the police report and kind of laughed it off. Then he did it again. He took the drills and all the batteries with him on his new job. What bothered me most was that he wouldn't admit it. He kept beating around the bush, and when he finally did admit it he said, "but I didn't use them." So meanwhile, Sarah stops attending any meetings or participating in any programming. I finally have had enough and sit them down and let them know, very gently, that it is no longer working out and they will have to leave. I say I will give them time, but the next day, they have changed the locks and Patrick has written me a text that I will share here: (punctuation is his) Good morning need to go over a few things with you this morning, so there are very strict tenant laws in Illinois. And have already contacted prairie home legal services, for legal help. Like we told you we plan on leaving peacefully so at this point it will be up to you but how peaceful this is going to go you are to leave Sarah and Jack alone while I'm at work really just as a whole All we ask is to be left alone no harassment or bullying we will be leaving as soon as we possibly can if you insist on harassing or bullying us we will be taking legal action if you continue to contact our family our friends and harass us that way or slander us there will be legal action taken. This is not a discussion nor an argument nor how badly you will want it to be you are not to contact Sarah or Jack there's no point in contacting me there will be no more responses we'll be out as soon as we can we are working on. So I ask you please do not push us do not push the issues just leave us alone and everything will be just fine we don't want to be here any longer than we have to but we will not be bullied or harassed or intimidated in any way so stay away from Sarah and Jack do not contact them if you insist on doing so or bothering them we know early go right you might want to look into them and we will be taking legal action immediately we don't want to make this anymore complicated or have any more conflict than is absolutely necessary it is really up to you at this point can you leave us alone can you not be pushy we will continue to pray for this situation and for you.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorAn Idealist-Realist. Striving to Bring those Idealistic Dreams into Reality. Archives
January 2025
Categories |