We’ve all heard the age-old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. But what if you don’t have a village? Unfortunately, not every parent is lucky enough to live near family or close friends who are willing and able to lend that ever-needed helping hand.
As an Aussie and international elementary teacher, I’ve traveled the world a wee bit. I settled down in Central Mass and started a family. If you are anything like me, you’ve chosen to start a family away from your own or away from the family of your partner. We all know parenting is really hard and we need all the help we can get. With no natural village surrounding you, it can be really tough. There is only so much you can do without some help. Which means if you don’t have a village, you’ve got to create one.
Here are a few places you can look to find your village:
Work
If you work outside of the home, your colleagues can be a great place to turn to. Your colleagues might not be your gender or age, but any parent has a wealth of knowledge and experience that you can learn from. Don’t be afraid to ask a question about something that might be on your mind.
Local Library
Small-town libraries have a lot going on. Check out their programs and strike up a conversation with other parents. Who does your kid talk to? Go introduce yourself to their parents. Libraries are also a great place to look for different books with toys to play with as well as local resources.
Facebook Mom’s Groups
So many of us are active on Facebook. Try searching for a mom’s group in your town. If your town is a small one like mine, try looking at the surrounding towns. I found a mom’s group in the neighboring town. When you join one, post about yourself and ask if anyone has similarly aged children who might want a play date. Be bold and put yourself out there!
Central Mass Mom’s Events
If you have the guts to attend an event alone, then going to a Mom’s Night Out event is a great way to find like-minded social moms. Someone is always there to facilitate conversation or you are welcome to start your own. Ask what the mom next to you is eating or drinking and go from there. Don’t forget to ask for their details after a night of fun and laughter.
Eventually, you will find a few ladies who you will click with and want to keep a friendship going. It can take a while, but you’ll find your village. And when you do, you’ll be happy you put yourself out there.
Here is a quick little shout-out to all my friends and family. To those of you around the world, chatting to me at all hours of the night when I’m up feeding the baby and can’t sleep. To my colleagues who always have some helpful advice and love to see pictures of bub. To my friends in and around my small town who have shared their resources, invited us for play dates, listened to my stresses, and offered to look after my baby to give me that much-needed break. Thank you. You have become the village I needed.
