Newtown As I Know It ~
Written by Jamie C. Martin of Simple Homeschool
A Note from Jamie: Today marks 10 years since the devastating tragedy so near to our home. My son Jonathan, now 18, asked if I would repost this tribute to our beloved town, originally shared on Dec 17, 2012. I also wrote a new post honoring our town today – click here to read.
I never intended to write about my current location here, or in any online space. I crave privacy and am tiger-mother fierce about protecting that of my kids. But when you see the town in which you live and love plastered across national and international news, the time has come to open up.
I make my home in Newtown, Connecticut–scene of last week’s 2nd deadliest school shooting in US history. If we had not chosen to homeschool, all three of my babes would have walked through the doors of Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday morning.
Who knows if all three would have come home again.
This tragedy hits close, shockingly close, to our home. Within walking distance families currently nurse a private grief that I find unimaginable.
What disturbs me, though, is that most of you are hearing about Newtown for the first time. Please know that there is another side than the sheer horror of what you’ve seen.
There’s the truth–what life is really like here. And though we’ve only lived in this town for a year and a half, this place will be part of our family’s heart, and history, forever.
This is Newtown as I know it:
I fell in love with this small town over two years ago. My kids attended a week-long summer camp here. After dropping them off I would wander–finding a place to write or take a walk–until time to pick them up again. Driving these country roads birthed a new dream for my family–a different type of life that would include fields and farms, refuge and freedom.
A safe place for my children to love, learn, and grow.
It has been that–and much more. You could say that Newtown was the answer to our prayers.
A stereotype holds that New Englanders keep their distance, but this community welcomed us warmly.
After Hurricane Sandy, when we lost power for four days, neighbors on both sides called and visited–inviting us to shower at their house, sleep on their floors, and borrow their camping stoves.
My children roam freely and play loudly for hours everyday outside our house. Once I noticed Elijah laying on the grass for several minutes, gazing at the sky.
“Watching hawks,” he said, when asked what captured his attention. I’ll always remember that moment. It struck me as exactly what a child should have the time and space for.
And it happened here. Newtown–a remarkable place to raise kids.
Though not exactly your typical family, I have never encountered even one rude look, glance, or comment about our uniqueness and diversity.
When checking out dozens of books recently, the librarian looked up at me with a warm smile and kindly said, “You must homeschool.” She went on to tell me of her positive experiences with other homeschooling families in the area.
Once my kids ran out to eagerly greet the oil man who had arrived to fill our tank. I walked out also, and he spoke up.
“Your son said you homeschool?”
As I answered yes, I wondered what would come next. But instead of questioning the validity of our educational choice, he opened up in my front yard about the learning struggles of his son. Turns out he and his wife had wondered about homeschooling themselves. He left that day with one of my cards for this blog, and an invitation to email me with any questions.
Our experience has shown us that Newtowners live and work with passion. I’ve been genuinely surprised to find that almost anyone hired to come to our house–from exterminators, to chimney sweeps, to tree choppers–exudes an excitement for their chosen line of work. My kids have come away thinking that “loving your job” is just what folks do.
Like I said, there’s something special here. A spark. Please remember that as you watch footage of terrified children running from classrooms and of lives irrevocably changed. That spark may be dim with sorrow, but it has not been extinguished in this courageous community.
Continue to send your prayers this direction. Not for us, who still have the privilege of tucking our little ones in tonight–but for those down the street and around the corner with empty beds and shattered hearts.
As for me, I will wake up tomorrow morning, look out the window at the field in the back, then do what I always do–thank God for sending us here. I will change my mind’s channel when images of horror and violence play on its screen, and replace it with images of what I know to be true about this beautiful community.
Treasured and cherished safely in my memory remains forever Newtown…as I know it.
Now you know it, too.
“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me.” ~ C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
Thank you for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers.
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So beautiful. Thank you for opening up and sharing that.
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Jaime it’s so nice to meet you and your adorable family. Thank you for sharing your little corner of the world with us. The world is so full of prayers for those in pain in your area – I add mine to the chorus each day.
Jamie, thank you for sharing this. My prayers go out to all affected by this tragedy, and in hope that the Light of the Lord will shine through.
I am glad you wrote this because this has been on my mind and heart. This tragedy could happen in any town or city…it is just that this is too scary a thought to hold on to for very long. But it is true. There is nothing unique about Newton or Sandy Hook Elementary that holds the answer to why this happened. It could happen anywhere.
We are praying for all who are hurting in Newton.
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Jamie – I’ve admired you for years. Thanks for sharing your Newtown with us. It makes it that much more personal. You ALL are in our prayers.
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What a beautiful tribute. God Bless you all.
Thank you for sharing what your town really looks like. It’s sad that this is the first and lasting impression that many people will have of Newtown, but it is with hope that we join you in prayer. That God would surround this town with love and a peace that passes all understanding. We love you and your town.
Thank you Jamie. A wonderful perspective, and one I personally needed. Prayers for everyone in Newtown.
Thank you for this beautiful post and the words you have shared about Newtown. Sending my prayers to all Newtowners.
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From myself and all my fellow mothers in my bi-monthly bible study group, our prayers have been going up for all of the families and the city of Newtown. Our hearts ache as we pray. We will continue to pray for strength for all in your town.
I’m so sorry to hear about your community. When I heard the news, I actually thought of you, thinking you might live around those parts…but I didn’t know how close.
Thank you for sharing this, as it does for sure show another side to the story.
As I was reading your post , the thought came to me that this could have happened anywhere. Because this happened it was an evil act, but we as a nation have obviously found that we don’t need God. It’s not Sandy Hook’s fault, it’s all of our fault really. We have become so busy that we ARE not teaching our children, loving our children. We have become complacent. As I watched the memorial service last night, you know God will allow things to happen to show us we need him, He desirees our fellowship, and I know these we’re innocent children that we’re killed, but he needs our fellowship, the Bible speaks of teaching our children as we rise up and lie down about him. If we don’t have God the answer to these tragedys, we have nothing, He is showing us we need him. We as parents whether we are HSing parents or ps parents, we have to pray for our children, their safety as we live in a society that would love to snuff our children out as they did these children. The evil that lurks out there, this could have been my town, But we need God. We need to pray for this nation to turn back to God. We need Him!!!
Jamie, I want to first tell you how very sorry I am for your community in Newtown for the loss f such precious lives. My heart aches for you as you all grieve and try and go on with life. I appreciate your courage to show us your town as you know it. It connects us in a way that is so much more personal than what the news can show. You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. I pray that God will hold your community in the palm of his hand and give you peace even in this difficult time. God bless you and God bless Newtown, CT.
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Simply beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to write this.
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Thanks for sharing. I see Newtown as a quaint and idyllic little New England town that experienced an awful tragedy. This may have put Newtown on the map for many, but it doesn’t have to define it!
This is the first time I’ve come across your blog and I love that you call your family a mini United Nations!! So fun!! We have lived in various places across Europe for 13 years, adopted one in Czech Republic (she is Roma) and birthed twins in Prague (through IVF, in that foreign country). If you asked my kids where they are from they will tell you they are from Prague, because that is were they were born. =) They’ve only lived in the US for short stints here and there and have lived in 2 other countries since their birth (Spain & Austria) and will make a third in February when we move to England. We hope it to be a more permanent location, but only God knows that for sure! =)
Thanks again for sharing!! Many thoughts and many prayers for your community!!
Tina
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Jamie, Thank you for sharing your heart and home with us today…lifting my prayers with so many others to cover your town with other-wordly peace.
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Prayers for comfort, peace and harmony continue for everyone.
From Coweta, OK
I don’t often comment, but I wanted to thank you for sharing. no words can put right the wrongs that have happened, but it is important to remember that a community does not have to be defined by it’s tragedies, and that goes for humanity too.
hoping peace comes to you and yours, and the people so deeply hurt by this.
My heart has been so broke since this tragedy happened, yesterday I saw my 7 year old granddaughter for the first time since before Friday, I held, hugged and kissed her and told her how much Grammy loved her, I think that’s all we can do! Prayer is going up for your beautiful town and for the families…it can happen in any town too!
I’m glad you wrote this post, Jamie. Newtown sounds like a lovely place to live.
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I am holding all of the people in your town in my prayers. Your loss has affected the entire world – we all lost those innocent children and the courageous staff members who lost their lives trying to protect the innocent.
Jamie, thank you for sharing such a beautiful portrait of your home town with us. I will picture your words in my mind as I continue to pray for your town and all the families affected by this tragedy. “Man’s inhumanity to Man makes countless thousands mourn” no truer words were spoken, but I serve the Living God, and I know He has those precious souls with him, and I pray that His comfort will continue to pour out on Newtown as a nation we cry out to Him. God Bless you and your family.
I am so glad to read this today. Newtown deserves to be known for more than this heartache. I am glad to know that the Littles we lost on Friday had this sort of life before it was cut short. Thank you for writing it.
Nice post…I am glad I read it b/c of the Incourage blog….there is so much TV coverage and dare I say hype over the shooter, the gun used, the events leading up to it etc…I just wish we could all turn off the TV and news and focus on the kids and families …focus on Newton. Thanks for your perspective. 😉
My family’s prayers are with your community and our great world we all share.