CIB was on the road a week ago at our first-ever convention appearance for a home educator’s association. We had the chance to visit with many lovely parents who believe that parenthood is sacred, meaningful work.
One thing I heard over and over again from parents who came by our booth was a longing for a supportive, multi-generational community. Moms, in particular, were looking for encouragement, advice, and connection.
The thing is, motherhood was never meant to be done in isolation. You’ve heard it before, “it takes a village to raise a child.” According to Wikipedia, this is an African proverb that means that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.
While it’s entirely possible to raise a child without a support system, the work is far easier when shared within a family and a larger village. One person was never meant to tend to all of the needs of a child by herself. The recent pandemic, a rise in mental health issues, and our latest tragic reminder of the toll of violence against innocent children, all highlight the issue of motherhood overwhelm.
While we don’t all have access to supportive villages of grandparents, aunties, and mentors to share in communal caretaking, I believe we can create supportive communities for ourselves.
Some of our needs can be met in deep and meaningful conversations with other moms, whether virtually or in person. This type of connection gives us strength and validation. Through friendship, shared wisdom, and laughter, we can grow, heal, gather inspiration, and lighten our burdens.
If you feel the absence of a village, I encourage you to build community for yourself. Ask another mom out for coffee, seek out virtual or in-person groups. You may need to do some trial and error to find a nurturing, authentic, and supportive connection, but your efforts will be rewarded.
Community is one of the main reasons we decided to launch our company Cast Iron Babe during the pandemic. I invite you to join us as we grow our supportive community! If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube show and interact with us on social media (Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook).
Let me know what you think. Are you longing for community? How are you creating it for yourself?
You’re doing great!
