It takes a village to raise a child

This week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is being heralded as one of the key negotiators in the cease fire between Israel and Hamas. I have so much admiration for Mrs. Clinton, for all the roles she has excelled in – as a lawyer, mother, First Lady, Secretary of State and author. This is an exceptional woman, in every sense of the word. And you gotta know being married to Bill can’t be easy. “Clinton 2016″ is inevitable because she is a freaking BOSS.

During her tenure as First Lady, Clinton wrote “It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us” about the impact groups and individuals outside of immediate family have on a child’s development and prosperity. She advocates a society that meets all of a child’s needs, and recognizes that it takes the support of a community in order for a child to thrive.

My own family is small, but very close, fiercely loyal and always supportive. The challenge (and sometimes, blessing. Sorry, Mom) is that we don’t live in the same city. They are close enough that we can visit regularly, although maybe not as often as we might like, but not close enough for my mom to pop around to sit with the boys while I run errands, take one child to piano lessons or go for a run. Both of my boys are in school full-time so I can’t justify hiring someone to help us with our day-to-day.  Also, I kind of suck at asking for help. It was very hard for me to admit that I couldn’t do it all, but I found out that if I wave the white flag, most of my friends are there when I need them. And I am happy to help them out with their juggling as well. We don’t keep tallies or expect something in return, but sometimes there are unexpected perks: in helping my friend FJ when she was in a bind for a dog sitter, I met my dog soul mate & we now co-parent the world’s best Yorkie.

Another strong, opinionated woman Anais Nin once wrote “Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” I would like to expand on this by saying that it is only by *needing* a friend that a new world, a deeper friendship, is born. My village consists of the strongest, smartest, funniest, most amazing women – my mother, my sister-in-law, friends from decades ago, friends from last week, friends I haven’t even met yet.  I am so grateful for their love & support, and how they inspire my children to shine.