Kerri and Peter Farrell with children Jessica, Kieran, Alana Farrell and Jaden Mercer.
by Linda L. Esterson
Kerri Hayman and Peter Farrell frolicked on the playground together in kindergarten at Sandymount Elementary School more than 40 years ago. That’s their earliest memory of their time together.
They went on to be in the same fifth grade class, then sixth grade team at West Middle School, and history class at Westminster High School. Kerri remembers a close friend dating Peter, but they ran in different circles. They saw each other at parties, but merely greeted each other and nothing more.
Years later as adults, their paths crossed again through a mutual friend. At an Orioles game in 2003, they found themselves in a skybox talking. It didn’t take long for them to realize they both grew up in Finksburg, and Kerri made the connection.
“I still had to look at the yearbook pictures,” laughs Peter.
Two months later, Kerri and her husband split. She and Peter would run into each other occasionally. They started chatting online, through AOL’s Instant Messenger, and shared thoughts and common experiences, especially divorce.
“We became really good friends,” Kerri recalls.
It wasn’t until Peter went to Ireland for three weeks to see family that Kerri realized she had romantic feelings for him.
When Peter returned, they went on their first official date, to Don Pablos, for lunch in July 2003. They shared their first kiss that day as well.
Future dates were coordinated around their schedules with their children – Jaden Mercer, then 2 ½, and Jessica Farrell, then 10. They eventually met each other’s child, and Peter introduced Jaden to Star Wars and Robin Hood. Kerri took Jessica shopping. Both adapted well and easily got along.
Their relationship progressed naturally, Kerri says, because they were already friends and had much in common. Within two months they had professed their love.
“I told her right away that she was the type of girl I wanted to marry,” says Peter, now 47.
Kerri thought he was kidding.
Concerned about being “the rebound guy,” Peter proceeded carefully. The children were their priority, and blending their families was a process. They seriously discussed marriage after a year together, but Kerri’s divorce was not finalized.
A few years later, before Peter even proposed, they formally set a wedding date with friends and family members.
Peter had the ring for about nine months, but needed to return it when he realized the size was wrong. After replacing it, he contemplated how he would ask Kerri to be his wife.
She actually helped him decide. In May 2007 Kerri fell down the stairs at work. Peter took her to Carroll Hospital Center and tried to find a nurse to help him with his impromptu plan. He could never get a nurse alone to conspire, so Kerri’s treatment proceeded normally.
In the car on the way home, Kerri was on the phone. “I have really good pain killers, but you have to get off the phone first,” Peter told her.
He reached into his pocket, attempting to grab the medicine, and to Kerri’s surprise pulled out a ring.
They decided she wouldn’t wear the ring until Jaden could participate. When he returned from his father’s, Peter gave Jaden the ring to give to Kerri.
They were married in a friend’s backyard on June 16, 2007, and a week later they took the kids to Disney World to celebrate. They honeymooned later in the summer – alone — in Costa Rica.
They enjoyed their weekends of one-on-one time for just nine months and then Kieran arrived. Fifteen months later, Alanna joined the family. As was the priority from the beginning, the children were happily their focus, but they try to have a date alone once a month. In December 2008, they moved to Peppermint Springs in Westminster, where they currently reside.
Their challenges continued in July 2014 after Peter was injured in a golf cart accident in the neighborhood. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, and he’s still recovering. After two months in the hospital and a rehabilitation facility, he returned home.
The laid back, easy-going, social Peter gave way to a more intense, isolated version. He didn’t want to see anyone, had difficulty with his memory and couldn’t help with the children’s needs, which he had previously shared equally with Kerri.
A year later, he’s back on track and involved and part of everyday life, including his job as a security assistant administrator for T. Rowe Price. Kerri has completed her 19th year teaching elementary students at Chatsworth School in Reisterstown.
Kerri admits they weren’t ready to be together until they reconnected as adults.
“We both came to a place where we had so much in common,” she says. “It just clicked so naturally. We have the same interests and been through a lot of the same highs and lows… We were best friends first, and that makes a difference.”
Sometimes, they still reflect with pride at their days on the playground.
“I was four years old when I met my wife,” says Peter.
“It’s weird to think it’s come full circle,” Kerri adds.
