It takes a Village…

To raise a Child.
Our kids need a plethora of healthy relationships. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, coaches, friends, teachers and siblings along with parents, who invest positively in their lives.

They need these people to show them how to do life.
How to respond when things don’t go the way they’d like.
What to do when other kids are mean and bullying.
How to steer clear of unhealthy relationships.
How to respond in failure as well as success.
They need lots of people to encourage them.
People who believe in them.
People who show them how to be world-changers.

We as parents need these other people in our lives as well. They can often add valuable insight into our lives as we parent.
If we’re in the middle of a difficult situation, trustworthy people around us are able to give sound advice and see the situation differently than we do.
Yes, we need the village as much as our kids do.

This might mean a mindset adjustment for some. It did for me, when I started out as a new mom. I used to think: “That’s not my child, his mom will correct his unacceptable behavior.” Or, “Each to his own; I am not responsible for other kids.”
No! So much no! Other kids need us to invest in their lives.

I have come to value the input of various aunts, uncles, friends and grandparents as they help guide my children.
What I expect now is…
that someone else will correct the unruly behavior of my boisterous child if needed. I want others to settle a dispute between my kids if I’m not around. I wish for others to kindly rebuke my children if unkind words are flung around or mean attitudes displayed. I want others to come to me if they have witnessed or heard of questionable behavior in my kids. We need the village!

Right along with this, comes a personal responsibility to invest in the lives of other children around me. Nieces, nephews, friend’s kids; actually, any kid in my current space.
Honestly folks, we owe it to each other and the world to look out for everyone’s kids. Adopt the attitude that “Every child needs positive investment from adults who care about the person he/she is becoming.”

It is selfish to only concern yourself with your own offspring. Be a giver. Invest in the lives of the little people around you who aren’t your own.
Be interested in them, figure out what they like and ask what they’ve been learning recently.

While I understand that an abundance of healthy relationships isn’t a reality for some families, don’t allow that to stop you from finding or forming ‘a village’.
If you don’t have that village due to your own fear or insecurity, you actually place your kids at a disadvantage.
Go find a village! Start one! It only takes a few passionate people to start something new.
It doesn’t have to be dozens of people, just a few folks other than yourself who will invest positively into the lives of your kids, and you into the lives of other kids.

Lead your children in the path of grace and kindness.
Guide other children into that path as well.

It takes a village to raise a child. Find that village; be a part of that village.
We need each other.