I Couldn't Find a Community -- So I Built One

I remember being on maternity leave with my son and feeling completely isolated. It was the opposite of what I had imagined—so far from how motherhood is portrayed in movies or the media.

Back then, Instagram wasn’t quite the world it is today (or maybe I just wasn’t in it yet). But I often wonder: if I were having a baby now, would it feel even worse? I picture myself at home—covered in spit-up, laundry everywhere, too tired to move—scrolling through photo after photo of serene baby influencers and perfectly styled nurseries.

Okay, I’m getting off track. But maybe you know the feeling?

Things started to shift a bit once I found a small group of mom friends—our kids played together, and slowly, I didn’t feel quite so alone. But in the really hard moments, especially as it became clear my son didn’t quite fit the mold, I still felt like I was on my own.

He needed something different. And I needed to be the kind of parent who didn’t try to make him fit in.

But when you start making those decisions—unconventional ones, rooted in your gut and your child’s mental health—it can get lonely. Who do you talk to when you’re the only one pulling your kid out of traditional school? What do you do when your friends can’t relate—or worse, don’t agree?

When I started Fáilte, it wasn’t just about creating a different kind of school. It was about creating a different kind of community. I didn’t just want to build a welcoming place for the kids—I wanted it to be a soft place for the whole family to land.

A place where that elusive “village” everyone talks about? Actually exists.

And over time, that’s exactly what we’ve become. Not just a group of kids being dropped off each morning, but a real, connected community.

We now have a parent book club that’s maybe 50% about the books… and 50% about enjoying a good meal and the rare luxury of adult conversation. We host family festivals where siblings tag along, students get to proudly show off their school, and parents connect more deeply.

We share resources. We help each other out. We listen and show up.

And me? I’m not the kind of teacher who only reaches out when something’s wrong. I’m the one texting you pictures of joyful moments, funny quotes from your kids (“There is one rule in my house: no blowing bubbles in the house!”), and the sweet day-to-day wins that are easy to miss.

At Fáilte, your child is seen. You are seen. You’re celebrated, supported—and you’re never doing it alone.

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