I'd like to describe how, as a parent, I've lived the experience of the "Casetta." The Casetta came into being because friends wanted to spend an entire day with the young people, and at the same time give parents some rest.
At first, I saw the parent relief as a secondary benefit—something that wouldn't really change how parents related to their children.
When I first brought my son to the Casetta, I watched with a hint of jealousy as everyone threw themselves joyfully into the small tasks. The longer I stayed, the stronger my desire grew to be part of it all.
Finally, after much persuading, the Casetta opened its doors to parents too.
Spending an entire day together changes you in ways that a couple of hours at ordinary meetings simply cannot. It deepens your knowledge of each other, your friendships, your sense of community, your everyday life together. Parents become invested in preparing the day and making it happen. There's something charming about watching parents and friends bustling in the kitchen, setting the table, washing dishes. At lunch, we all gather at the same table to share the same food. This is when the family comes back together. It's something that should never be lost sight of.
"Sharing the same meal." The joy of that moment makes us—I'm an optimist!—barely notice whether what we're eating is tasty or not. What matters is living it together.
Another gift for parents is the chance to care for other young people and, in doing so, to see more clearly what really counts: their openness to others, their simplicity, their innocence. Slowly, these gifts help us discover that their presence itself is truly a salvation.
A Father, 1980