RoatanKids is here!!

ALL kids welcome to

fun and games...

the Roatan fun way!

Shelley Lynch came to Roatan in early

1998 with her husband TJ Lynch. Both being Canadians they embarked on quite the journey of lifestyle, work, and cultural changes. The Newlyweds spent the first couple years enjoying paradise, relaxing in West Bay Beach sippin’ pina

colodas and kickin’ back Island style.

It was not long before the couple received the happy news of their first child to be born in Honduras. Shelley gave birth to Jayson Lynch on April 5, 1999 at Clinica Bendana, San Pedro Sula Hospital. Two days later, he took his first flight to home with his happy parents. The Lynch family now looked forward to many new childhood adventures on the Island of Roatan.

At this time, living on the Island was a lot different, and there were not many foreigner children living here. It seemed that during the next couple years there would be boom in births of ex-pat children. Many children were being born from all different nationalities, French, Italian, Canadians, Americans, Dutch, Germans. So many different languages, so many children coming together to embark on the same dream. Two years later, TJ and Shelley had their second bundle of joy, Sean Graden Lynch. He was born March 9, 2001, also at the same hospital in San Pedro Sula. Both children were born by c-section, blessed without complications.

Shelley and TJ played, worked, and enjoyed their family as Jayson and Grady toddled about West Bay. During the first years, there was very little organized children’s activities, so Mom’s depended upon their own creativity to keep their kids busy. Without the regular family support one might have if they were having their children in their home country, it appeared that mom’s could feel quite segregated and alone in a foreign country having babies without grandparents right close by. Noticing that baby showers seemed to be nonexistent celebration, Shelley began organizing baby showers for the new Mom’s in West Bay. This allowed the many newcomers who were growing their families in Roatan, the opportunity to share their experience, knowledge, and friendship with each other. These new parent relationships brought babies together to build and grow their own bonds with each other, friendships which still carry on today. These small gatherings in West Bay started a whole new era of Mom’s supporting Mom’s and women supporting women, other groups followed. Parents who may have felt secluded, were now becoming involved with others of same common interests, thus forming many wonderful relationships and great memories.

Since this time many organizations have come to fruition. The bilingual schools have improved to cater to the growing population of Roatan. Many extra curricular programs have been created throughout the Island and are now offered to our Roatan Kids and visitors.