When I grew up, my Mom stayed at home until I was five when we moved to a new house across town. I have two sisters, my older sister who is 2 years older than me and I also have a twin sister. Needless to say we were a busy house. We started going to a local day care center for about a year after we moved in and then our neighbor started watching us after school until my Mom got home from work. She had four kids of her own which made for a lot of fun afternoons. I never questioned how things got done around our house, they just did. Now that I am a Mom, and I work full time, I now know how things get done. Through our community, a village.
I call mine our Cul-de-Sac Village. But my village extends even further than our little cul-de-sac. I am very blessed in that my family lives close by, and I have some very wonderful lifelong friends that are still close as well. My Mom is able to help watch my kids three afternoons a week. But when she is unable to be there, one quick phone call to the village and things get done. Just like when I was growing up, our family leans on some very generous people that surround our family.
The village is not only for childcare but simple things. My husband is on call for his job, especially during the winter, so who is generally stuck with the shoveling during big snow storms? You guessed it, me. But, some mornings I wake up and am completely surprised with a clear driveway. Who is responsible? My village. It is not one person I can point out. There are so many people that make an impact on our lives. I run out of eggs making cookies – ask the village. I get called in to work on a weekend and need someone to watch the kids for a few hours – ask the village. I need a glass of wine to share some laughs – ask the village. My kids need friends to play with to burn off some energy – ask the village. My husband and I need a date night; without having to give up our life savings for a babysitter – ask the village. I need an ear to listen and shoulder to share my struggles – ask the village.
I only hope our family provides the same for others in our village. But, it is so wonderful when you know you can rely on people when you are in need. When we first moved to our house, it took a few years to meet the village. You have to be willing to give to the village to create the village. Once you give to it, it gives back in return. I think back to when I was growing up and there has been a village of wonderful people that have traveled with me all my life. We may not all be in the same place still, but the village has left an impact me.
