Raising Kids Really Does Take A Village
I would like to sit here and tell you that me and my husband have got this whole parenting thing figured out. I would love to tell you that my children need us and only us. I'd love to even say that when they need help with something, they automatically want to come to us, and whenever they have a question, we are their first choice of people to ask. However, I'd be lying if I said that. My daughters and all kids everywhere need other adults to come alongside of us parents as we raise our children. Okay, so me and my husband are extremely lucky! We have many people who have said that they are for us and for our daughters. People who have said they will walk alongside of us helping our girls whenever they need it. We even have the best of the best "babysitter" in my opinion. She is someone who has become a trusted family member, and someone my girls view as the cool older sister. I am forever grateful for her, alongside all of our friends and family who have agreed to continually love our children well.
My daughters are 7, 5, 4 and 1. They are at ages where they do mainly come to mom and dad for problems or questions about certain topics. However, our oldest daughter is coming into the stage of life where she gets uncomfortable to talk to us about certain things. This is the natural stage of life is where the idea of asking mom and dad becomes terrifying to them. I don't know about you, but I want my children to be able to go to a trusted adult for answers and help with problems. Yes, I am referring to boy problems, questions about drugs and drinking, or even questions about sex. Would you rather your children ask questions or get advice from their peers who will tell them things like.....forget your parents....lets get high....you should have sex with that person you just met....it'll all be fun.....? Or would you rather have someone in their lives who isn't as intimidating to talk to as mom and dad, but someone who will give them great advice about life?
Think about your childhood for a minute. What type of questions did you have floating around in your head? Personally, I had a lot. Kids are curious whether you like to believe it or not, even from a very young age. They want to know what curse words mean. They want to know what happens when people get drunk. They want to know what it's like to makeout with someone. What they don't think about is the consequences and repercussions that follow.
Raising kids takes a village!
We need a whole team rallied around us to help raise a generation of people who are respectful. People who are decent human beings that know how to love others well. If we have those friends, family members, babysitters, etc., who have decided they want to join in, we are lucky! If you don't have those people yet, get them. Your kids will thank you when they grow up. They will thank you because they will feel like they have a judgement free zone to process their thoughts, and to figure out answers to all they want to know about in life. From me and other parents alike, I would like to send out a huge thank you to all the amazing people who have kids, who don't have kids, who are single as a pringle, or have been married for years, who have dedicated themselves to loving others. Those who have said it aloud or showed it with their actions that they are for helping us raise great kids.
From this mama right here, you all are the best!!!
