It Takes a Village

Everyone has heard the saying.  And there is truth behind it.  It used to mean that friends, family, neighbors, etc. were ready, willing, and able to help raise your child because that was simply what people did.  From our experience, this saying has lost much of its meaning.  

In my previous post I discussed parents being a team.  The most important part of that team is having someone you can count on day in and day out no matter what is going on because you are both committed to the health and welfare of your child and family at large.  In the modern world this takes on additional importance because you cannot count on people the same way you used to be able to.  Yes, there are exceptions to the rule but in general my wife and I count on each other and any other help is gravy.  

While many people preach the importance of family, what they do not say out loud is that family is important when it does not interfere with what they have going on in their lives.  We do not ask people to go out of their way for us, but we do seek help from time to time.  And when we do, we expect that if you commit you will see your commitment through.  Our babysitter shows up like clockwork every Saturday night.  Our friends and family are hit or miss.  Not so say that we do not understand when an emergency comes up.  But to call at 9:59 when you are supposed to be somewhere at 10:00 that you will not be there is completely unacceptable.  It is rude.  And it can cost us both in time and money.  No one likes to take time away from themselves anymore.  

When we make a commitment to be somewhere or help someone we show up.  That is all we expect.  Nowadays that seems to be a pipe dream.  The village is no longer.