How did you find each other? Do you think it makes parenting better? What keeps you together?
We have a small one, and we’re very lucky to have been able to pull it together as our families are distant.
It took some dedicated effort to connect with other parents during the daycare phase, which has paid off in the kindergarten phase. Our daycare had a playground close to it that many kids / parents would frequent after daycare ended. I’d pick my higher social battery days and then make small talk.
Talk about the kids, talk about the daycare, then talk about what other activities you’re planning for the kid(s) (gymnastics, tee ball, swimming, w/e) and see if other parents have interest in their kids doing the same. Having activities where the children see the same faces is great for their engagement - and great for you seeing the same parents.
This has turned in to a few close parent friends that have been able to help in a pinch.
we don’t and it takes its toll on us. we make do with whatever people we can pay to help with childcare and housekeeping.
Same. My kid only has one grandparent left and he lives 1500 miles away. Most other remaining family also lives 100 miles away in a different city. We have some friends but none of them have kids. It’s hard sometimes.
Nope, the daycare is god send though, when necessary he can be there between 8am and 7pm. And that covers 99% of the problematic times for us.
I’m also a imigrant who still doesn’t speak the language and is not integrated :( so it’s extra hard to connect to anyone.
Not a huge one, but I’ve got a small tribe. My wife and I have a girlfriend, and regardless of which woman is the birth mom, all our kids have 3 parents. My oldest son and his kids also live with me, so we can help out with his kids, and he can help out with ours. My MiL lives in an apartment above my garage, so she’s always around to help out. My SiL lives a few miles down the road from us, so ditto for her. My best friend will drop pretty much anything she has going on to help out if all else fails.
It definitely makes parenting better, and a lot easier. As far as what keeps us together, a mutual love and respect.
No, I don’t really have anyone in my life that I would trust with my child anyway.
My mother refuses to stop trying to push her nutty religion on absolutely everyone so shes out.
Most of my siblings have 0 situational awareness and do dumb shit like lighting a joint right next to a cop or driving drunk to the police station to pick up their spouse who was just arrested for driving drunk so they are out.
The one person I might trust lives 4 hours away and has a habit of not answering the phone so their out too.
There is no village in my life. We are an island and it sucks.
I have had a village, at times, and then none. And I’ve been the village. I looked after all my nieces and nephews, some so their parents could work and study. I had some relatives help me with my first baby, but was almost entirely alone for my second and third babies. Everyone has to work, so it’s hard to be a village. It’s hard to find a village, because life is too busy. It’s hard.
the hired therapy help. thats the villiage. better than nothing.
That is easily answered, but the answer is not so obvious. The people you are looking for are all around you . Look around for the clues.
