My cousin/sister, Melis, always reminds me it really does take a village to raise children and those who surround you during the trying times will cement themselves as lifesavers. These loving people come into your life at the right time or have been there all along and keep coming back time and time again. My village is vast and I don't know how I got so blessed but I am forever grateful. When you live so far from family and the familiar, you come to appreciate and understand how deep hearts can go.
Its the neighbor who literally whisks your eldest under her wing to make him feel extra special, extra loved when you have doctor's appointments or a newborn to feed round the clock. She can be called at a moment's notice and never expects a thing in return. And when you see your son light up at her mere presence, you feel it was truly serendipitus that you chose this house, this cul de sac, this town in which to reside. It seems as though we were all placed adjacent the most loving and caring individuals.
Its the parents two doors down who open their doors to your family and remind you that caring for yourself and remembering to keep your marriage a priority are the keys to keeping sane and being better parents for your kids. They share wisdom, indulge your child with positive energy and lend a helping hand whenever possible. The neighbors who look out for you and along the way become not just the parents of your child's pals, but friends.
Its the woman you meet at church who becomes a true confidant. You share parenting struggles, help each other through the winter blues and journey through your second pregnancies together. All the while becoming more familiar and soon feel like you have known each other all along.This support system becomes invaluable and you didn't even know you needed someone just like her in your life.
Its the distant forever friends who check in on you like clockwork--exactly when you need it most, their timing can make you weep. Or the sorority sisters and college roomies and teammates who continue to lift you up even though miles separate---their calls, cards and messages remind you they are right beside you every step, every milestone.
And of course its your family. My village is vast, ever changing and often beyond the bloodlines but my relatives are too that village connecting us all. Its the sister-in-laws who dote on my children and love them unconditionally. Its the uncles that make them giggle and keep your partner in stitches too. Its your mother-in-law who only sees goodness in your kids and comes whenever called, without question, she just arrives to help and to love. Its the cousins who make your children pictures, give them long-lasting hugs and chase them up the stairs. Its my own grandmother who checks up on me, reminds me to pause and appreciate this precious time--she still sees me as a little girl and I love this. The family that makes you feel like we all live in one block, when we get together it feels as if no time has passed, no miles are between us---it is love and only love and we drink it up.
Its your mother who has a permanent lock on what you need, when you need it and drops everything to comfort you, to soothe your children, to love your world, to do your laundry, to help your marriage, to give you the world again and again. My mother doesn't think my kids fuss, she just senses what they need and provides. She doesn't see my pale, undone face and hair---she sees her daughter feeding her newborn and striving to create normalcy---she sees this and calls me beautiful and skinny. For this and so much more, I salute the queen of my vast village---thanks is not enough mom but I say it anyway.
