--- title: Living in a children's home — a lesson of Mova's school · trees and pragmatics description: «Living in a children's home», a lesson of the everyday course of Mova's primary school, sentence by sentence with dependency trees and pragmatics. It begins: Some children can't live with their parents for a while, because the parents are too ill, can't cope, or can't keep them safe. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/) / [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/) / Living in a children's home # Living in a children's home Lesson 520 of the everyday course of Mova's primary school: 49 sentences, each with its syntax tree and pragmatics. The lessons are written for Mova, and their agreed trees are part of Mova corpus 0.4 (CC BY-SA 4.0). How Mova does on its tests: [the lesson at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/). - [0](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/0/) — Some children can't live with their parents for a while, because the parents are too ill, can't cope, or can't keep them safe. - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/1/) — Some of those children live in a children's home: an ordinary-looking house with a few children and grown-up staff who look after them in shifts. - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/2/) — Shay's key worker, Bríd (his own special staff member), does his hair for school photos and knows he hates mushrooms. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/3/) — But at nine o'clock Bríd goes home, and a different worker comes on. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/4/) — «Bríd's grand,» Shay says («grand» is Irish for fine, good), «but she's not mine, ye know?» He loves her and feels the gap at the same time. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/5/) — The home has rules: lights out at nine, no phones after eight, signing in and out. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/6/) — «It's like prison, man,» Jordan-Lee moans at school. - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/7/) — His mate shrugs. - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/8/) — «My mum's the same, bro. - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/9/) — Phone in the kitchen at eight or it's gone.» Jordan-Lee laughs. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/10/) — Rules are there to keep children safe, in a home and in a family. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/11/) — Some days are hard: the older kids are loud, and one takes Rian's trainers. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/12/) — Rian tells the staff, and they get them back and sort it out. - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/13/) — On Keeley's birthday the staff get a cake with sparklers and everyone sings. - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/14/) — Keeley smiles, and keeps glancing at the phone, wishing her mum would call. - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/15/) — A kid at school asks Aaliyah, «Where's your mum and dad?» «I live in a home.» «What, like an orphan?» Aaliyah feels small. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/16/) — An orphan is a child whose parents have both died, and most children in homes have parents who are alive but can't look after them right now. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/17/) — Aaliyah doesn't owe anyone the whole story. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/18/) — «I live in a home, it's alright,» is enough. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/19/) — Destiny shares a room with a girl called Precious. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/20/) — They argue about the light for a week, then become best friends, and they still are. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/21/) — Luca's mum visits once a month. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/22/) — He waits by the window in his best hoodie. - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/23/) — Sometimes she comes and they play Uno; sometimes she doesn't turn up, and Luca goes quiet for days. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/24/) — His key worker sits with him and doesn't say «never mind». - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/25/) — Elowen hopes every day that her dad will get better and take her home. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/26/) — This year he doesn't, and her social worker says honestly that he may not be able to for a long time. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/27/) — Elowen keeps hoping, and keeps going to dance class too. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/28/) — Hope and getting on with life can live side by side. - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/29/) — Good things happen too. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/30/) — Koa's carer takes him fishing at the river. - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/32/) — Jolene's social worker visits with forms: «We are looking for a foster family for you.» «What if they don't like me?» Jolene asks. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/33/) — «Then we keep looking till we find the right one, and you get to meet them first.» Maddox gets a letter: «Formal notice: placement review hearing. - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/34/) — Notice is hereby given that the matter of the above-named child shall be reviewed on 14 November. - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/35/) — The child's wishes and feelings will be sought.» He has no idea what it means. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/36/) — His social worker explains: grown-ups will meet to check that where he lives is still right for him, and he can tell them what he thinks. - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/37/) — Some children can't live with their parents for a while because the parents are ill, can't cope, or can't keep them safe. - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/38/) — A children's home is a house where a few children live, looked after by staff who work in shifts. - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/39/) — A key worker is a staff member who looks out for one child in particular. - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/40/) — Rules in a children's home, like bedtimes and phone times, are there to keep children safe; many families have similar rules. - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/41/) — If something is taken or someone is unkind, children should tell the staff, who are there to help. - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/42/) — An orphan is a child whose parents have died; most children in care have living parents who can't look after them right now. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/43/) — Children don't have to explain to everyone why they live in a home; a short answer is enough. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/44/) — Friends made in a home can feel like family. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/45/) — Parents sometimes miss visits; it's normal to feel let down, and it helps to talk to a key worker. - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/46/) — Some children go home again, some move to foster families, and some stay in care for a long time. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/47/) — Social workers help children in care, explain letters and plans, and look for foster families. - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/48/) — Official letters about children in care use formal words; a social worker can explain them, and the child's views are asked for. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/520-living-in-a-childrens-home/49/) — «Grand» is Irish for fine, «sweet as» is New Zealand slang for great, and «stoked» means thrilled. - ← previous: [Parents far away: the army, work abroad, prison](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/519-parents-far-away-the-army-work-abroad-prison/) - next →: [Foster care](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/521-foster-care/) - ↑ back to [Everyday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/)