My Village

My village is my saving grace. The wonderful friends I have that help me raise my children are numerous, and I’d hate to start naming them for fear I may unintentionally leave someone out. But I can be sure that they are willing and able to help out in lots of ways. They mother my children for me in my absence, or sometimes even in my presence when I just need a break. I hope you have a similar experience with your close friends and family. I love that I live in a place where I am friends with my daughters’ school Nurse, their teachers, their Sunday School leaders, etc. Some of the wonderful teachers my daughters have were also my teachers growing up or friends of my family’s, adding an extra measure of accountability. My children are friends with the children of my friends, and I love it. There are so many overlapping layers in my village, that I know I have someone to call on whenever there is a particular need. I also know that my girls will never get away with anything! Even if I don’t have my eyes on them at all times, somebody I know does. If they go through a rebellious period in their teens, they would literally have to travel out of state to buy cigarettes or alcohol, because if they try it here, someone will surely let me know.

Even with all the help my village provides me, sometimes people do things that stand out. Today was one of those days. We had a “snow day,” which in Georgia means there is a threat of bad weather and we are really not equipped to handle it if it comes, so we have to call off school. Everyone needs a snow day sometimes. Just an unexpected day off to sleep a little later, catch up on things around the house and recharge a bit. Today was not that day, however. Teachers are in a unique predicament during Winter. Occasionally school gets called off because of dangerous conditions for buses, so students can’t make it to school. Teachers, though, in their own cars, can make it in just fine so you get the message that says that students get a day off, but staff must report. Well, that sounds great in theory, but then any staff member with children has to scramble at the last minute to find childcare or ends up taking their children to work with them. I have done both. The last minute babysitter find is stressful and taking the kids to work is hard on everyone. The kids don’t like it because they aren’t really enjoying their day off and the parents don’t like it because it’s difficult to be productive with your own young children in the classroom with you. It’s a dilemma, that although it only happens rarely, can cause quite the disturbance in the family.

Unless, that is, you have a village like mine. I didn’t do the last minute babysitter hunt, I didn’t take my girls to school with me, and I still managed to get in nearly a full day of very productive work. Before school was even called off, I had an offer from one of my friends to have my girls come to her house for the day if needed. Not only did she take my children for more than a few hours (I think it was six if we are counting), but she fed them lunch, made crafts with them, moderated arguments between her children and mine and offered to do it again if it was ever an issue. When I arrived to pick them up, she had even prepared be a jar of Elderberry Syrup from a batch she made to help us stay healthy as the flu virus is rearing its head right now. This was a standout day for my village. I was in need, and before I even knew I was in need, they had stepped in to help.

This is not the only standout day I have had, it is just the most recent. From having teachers/friends show up at dance performances to getting texted pictures of my girls during the school day, to having follow up phone calls from teacher and nurse friends when my girls are sick, my village shines. My youngest has even picked out her Wednesday night Bible study teacher and our Senior Pastor as two of the few men she will sit with and hug on other than her daddy. I could write pages on how much having a strong village enhances your life and the lives of your children, but I’m pretty sure you know this already. I would just encourage you to make sure your village knows how much they are appreciated and how you really couldn’t fathom raising your kids without them. I hope my village knows that!