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 The Keans, an Extended Family by Jane McDonnell, BVM |
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We've been asked to call the Kean family in Epworth, Iowa, an extended family. That sizable group includes BVM Associate Kathryn and Jim Kean, their two daughters, a still-born son, two adopted sons (died since as young adults), 29 foster children and three foreign exchange students. When Kathy and Jim investigated the adoption of their sons in 1968, they realized that there were plenty of children in real trouble and they needed help. So, they asked themselves: Why don't we take some foster children, give them love, as well as discipline, and show them some of the ways to live a good life? Over the years, Kathy and Jim worked with people from the Juvenile Court in Dubuque, Dubuque Mental Health and the Mental Health Institute at Independence, Iowa, to find children who could benefit from life in a real home. The children were not necessarily deprived, but in need of guidance. The Keans refused to take a child who didn't want help or wouldn't agree to follow the rules of the Kean household. The children had to be morally OK and had to attend church regularly, whatever their church affiliation was. Many of them seemed hard core characters, regardless of their age. A very few of the foster children stayed only a few nights, about a dozen of them lived with the Keans at least a dozen years. Many years there were at least 17 children living as part of the Kean family. They were all free to leave at the age of 18. The whole Kean family camped together on their annual vacation. They all had scheduled chores to take care of the house and each other. These chores included 85 loads of wash a week in the Keans two washers and dryers. Both girls and boys learned how to do what they would be expected to take care of as adults. Jim and Kathy saw to it that each child went to church every week and become involved in youth activities at their own churches. Both Kathy and Jim sponsored youth groups at St. Patrick's, the Catholic parish in Epworth, and at the Methodist church in that town. Both parents also often taught high school CCD. And what else could Jim and Kathy have done with their time? Well, Jim Kean was a machinist at John Deere in Dubuque for 31 years. He liked jobs on the side and was also a paramedic at the fire department in Epworth for 35 years. He has been a full-time deacon at St. Patrick's since 1997. And, of course, he worked long hours both day and night at fathering children in their home. Kathy is a Certified Nurse Assistant at Marian Hall, part-time now, but she started full-time at Marian Hall in 1978. Years ago there was always someone qualified to take her place in the summer months. That left Kathy free to be with the children during summer vacations. Asked how they ever managed, Kathy points to the three sheets of Keans Home Rules—all 15 of them, and especially to the introductory sentence there: Rules are designed to prevent hassles, not cause them. Everyone had a copy. They included rules for 1) bathroom, 2) room care, 3) smoking and chewing, 4) phone, 5) chores and duties, 6) visitors, 7) clothes, 8) other people's rooms, 9) Jim and Kathy's room, 10) meals, 11) violence, 12) bedtime, 13) study hour, 14) violations, 15) grounding. This last, Kathy insists, is what made the other rules possible: No phone calls, cannot leave yard, can't have friends over, bed at 9. About the author: Jane McDonnell, BVM (Bonaventure) works part time in the BVM Archives, does research and writing, has just published her sixth book of poetry. Return
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