Omg Prmg - that's disgraceful! Charging a friend to babysit! You know ill do it for free!

The transient flow of a village is a good point. Today's society certainly points towards everything being transient.

I'm another that has always been self reliant. But out of necessity more so than desire.


This thread has got me thinking a lot. And feeling incredibly sad because it has made me realize there are people in my life I thought would be part of my village and who aren't. But it's also made me realize there are people I didn't think that are part of my village but are. My belly buddies group is the perfect example. 12 women spread across the country. Very few of us have met in person. But we are there for each other at any time of the day or night whether it be for baby related topics, relationships, employment, or just a chat. Like any village, some are more active than others but we are all there and all participate. There are no conditions. No rules. These women are an important part of my life - and an unexpected one.

So maybe that's the key. Like someone else said (sorry can't remember who it was and on the phone so can't scroll) - different people have different roles in the village and some are more active than others. Perhaps it's about recognizing that and being appreciative of those people and their roles. And dare I say, actually expressing such gratitude to our village.

I love this thread because it is so incredibly thought provoking. It makes one take stock of things. But I have seen so many women (including myself) talk about no village or a limited village. Perhaps we don't realize that we are part of a village - perhaps not the village we hold as an ideal in our minds, but a village nonetheless. Perhaps we don't realize the value of our own role in someone else's village.