It takes a village to raise a mama

This has been on my heart for a while now.  Then I read this blog article today and I knew I had to write about this.  I have never been a real girly girl growing up.  I played sports, lots of sports and thought all that girl stuff was silly.   I never got into New Kids, I never made up dance routines at sleepovers, I still don’t know how to do my hair let alone play with another girl’s... and looking back, I really wish I did.   But I am making up for it now.  

I have been so blessed with many mommy friends.   I have a great community in my neighbourhood, my city, and the on line world.  And honestly I could not and would not be the mom I am today if it weren’t for these relationships.  It really has taken a village to raise me into the mom I am.  To mentor me, love me, comfort me, encourage me...  There is something very specialy about women coming along to help another out.  I am always so comforted by moms who have been there before, had my struggles and experiences and can offer some words of wisdom for me.  They also really help to make me feel sane again :)

I have always found the early weeks of mommy hood to be very dark and hard and it is so easy to feel alone and overwhelmed.  I think people tend to draw back (I know I do...) and let the new mommy be but I will never forget the phone calls (ok I have,  I don’t remember many details from those weeks!) but I will never forget how much those phone calls meant to me.  Just simple things that mommies know another mommy needs.

These women (you know who you are) are especially amazing because they have done these things for me:

-made me meals

-invited my family over after I have had ‘one of those days’

-call to check in

-lend me baby clothes

-problem solves nap issues with me

-have me over for a coffee

-take my kids so I can go have a coffee break

-babysit when I am stuck

-take the dog out for a walk

-take the dog and the toddler out for a walk (without me:))

-call while at the grocery store to check if I need anything (seriously this has happened more than once... amazing...)

-take my kids coat and boots off when I get to their house because my hands are full and do the same on the way out

-make me laugh so hard I pee my pants *ok this may have only happened in the post-partum period!*

-intervening during meltdowns before I have a meltdown
-send bible verses to me

-share their struggles

-admit failure
-pray for me

-tell me I am doing a great job

-tell me they love my kids

See, I am pretty spoiled... :) I am a first generation Christian and am by grace fumbling my way around trying to raise my children for the glory of the Lord and so that one day they will know their Saviour.  I know I am ultimately led by the Lord and he needs to be my rock, but he has placed such amazing women in my life to show me the ‘how-to’s’ and to reflect his light into areas I didn’t know needed to be lit up.  I feel like a sponge off these women and I am so grateful for them.

So if you don’t have a community.  Please reach out and find one.  The article in the beginning has many good ideas on how to find one.  Join a play group, say hi to a mom in the park, and take initiative.  We ALL need this.  I am also a big fan of Blog land.  These bloggers who I will never meet and changed my life.  I love them all so much.  I am known to always be re-posting things on FB and probably annoying half of my friends but I find this to be such a supportive and encouraging community I want to share with other moms who might be struggling with something too.  Some of my most influential blogs are:  A Holy Experience, Women LivingWell, Good Monring Girls, Time-Warp Wife, Grace Full Mama, The Better Mom and for a good laugh when you think (or know!) you are going crazy grab a coffee and get lost here for a bit- Rants from Mommy Land. In fact, just grab a coffee anyways and enjoy!