Team Player: Maribeth McTernan on Soccer, Family, and Eight Years at SHI

NEWTON, MA: Eight years, three kids, ten residents, and one very full calendar. Meet Maribeth McTernan, program manager in one of our Newton houses, who shares what makes her house so lively, why she’s an evangelist for adult rec soccer, and how the residents have been part of her family’s life since before her first child was born.

Please tell us about your position with Specialized Housing.

I am a house manager in Newton. This year marks 8 years since it opened and since I started! I work five days a week managing the busy, busy schedules and needs of ten residents.

How did you hear about Specialized Housing?

I had recently moved back home to Massachusetts after nearly a decade in California and was searching for a new job. I had left a position that I absolutely loved, running a community-based day program for folks with disabilities. I was feeling open to all sorts of potential pathways but when I came across a listing describing this job, I was so excited to see something that seemed to fit so well with the values and strengths I had developed working within the field. I had done direct support for many years before becoming a director, and the posting described a great balance between direct support and administrative work that was very appealing to me.

Take us through a typical day in your house.

We have a lot of fun in this house! We dance a lot, we laugh a lot, we love to cook and share meals together. I also warn all new staff: we are busy! Each resident is involved in a variety of personal pursuits on any given day, whether it be Best Buddies, local rec programs, fitness pursuits, work, etc. It is a hustling and bustling household. But we still manage to gather for dinner with everyone or almost everyone most nights during the week. Then some folks hang and do puzzles, watch TV, color/draw, chitchat in the kitchen or retire to their rooms for a bit before getting ready for bed.

What is the most inspiring part of your work at SHI?

Seeing the residents thrive and succeed within their community. The folks that live here maintain strong relationships with their families (including their chosen family—their housemates), their neighbors, their friends and their coworkers. When they inevitably go through the types of challenges that all adults face, it is beautiful to watch them support each other and lean on each other. When we get together for shared celebrations, cookouts with neighbors, or I get to witness them doing the same with their coworkers and friends, I am just so glad that our model allows them to access this most important part of life so fully and successfully.

You have 3 kids! How has being part of this community shaped your family?

I was pregnant with my first kid when I started this job so the residents have witnessed my entire parenting journey, and my kids have known the residents here their whole lives. I have a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 4-year-old. The job, the residents, and the family group that supports them have all been very supportive of me throughout three maternity leaves and all of the scheduling and life changes that come as the kids have grown and started school and whatnot. I feel like I have a wonderful work-life balance that allows me to be present for my kids during these precious years.

We learned that you are a soccer player! Could you tell us a bit about the role that soccer plays in your life? 

As a parent and as someone who hates working out for the sake of working out, soccer is an essential part of my self-care. I look forward to it every week and am an evangelist of adult recreational sports. I think everyone should do it! Just a wholesome source of adrenaline, fitness and fun!

And lastly, we’d love to learn more about your other interests. Could you share something about a non-work hobby or passion?

Beyond work, my kids, and soccer: I love to read, to be outdoors, to hike and to camp. My partner and I both come from big families and I love spending time with our siblings and parents and all of our nieces and nephews. Since moving into my home a few years ago, I have taken a particular interest in caring for our small patch of woods, removing the invasive vines that were killing the trees and nurturing the native plants and trees that pop up. My kids and I love getting to witness all the creatures and wildlife they bring!