It Takes a Village

It truly does take a village. 

I grew up with my extended family. So many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Can't forget the grandparents. Because of this village, I was able to experience life in many different ways and I grew to appreciate the input that a community can have when it comes to raising good people. 

Due to this upbringing, I knew no other way to raise my own kids. I am an only child, so my aunts, uncles, and cousins became theirs. As did my friends. My son somehow became a gear head. Apart from the most basic of car maintenance knowledge, I have no idea what he is talking about most days. Thankfully though he has my dad's older brother, the other gear head in the family. 

Not long ago when we still had the '59 Ford, my uncle would just drop by to talk to my son and work on the truck together. One day they went on a drive together and ran out of gas. When I got the call that they needed help all I could hear in the background was my uncle's giggle and the delight in my son's voice as they called for a rescue. When I got to them, they were both heads under the hood and having the best time talking about what the problem was. 

When I brought them back to the house so my aunt could bring a part that the truck needed (that of course my uncle had in his garage) they didn't come into the house to enjoy a drink and some air conditioning. Nope, they stayed out to look at the classic truck my uncle drove up in. I am not going to pretend I know what it is. My son loves that truck, and when the time comes that my uncle needs it no longer, my son has promised to give it a good home. 

My son had his first semester in college starting last September. Coincidentally he decided to take the same course that a really good friend of mine had completed years before. I was lucky enough that my friend stepped in to mentor him. He took him to his place of work and gave him some good information before classes started. Unfortunately, the course didn't go as he had planned and he wound up failing a couple of classes. So this semester he dropped out. He has plans to go back but having the experience of something being beyond him for the first time really took the wind out of his sails. 

My friend heard about it and took him out for wings to talk about what had happened. My son hates asking for help, but my friend stepped up. He helped to encourage him, and now my son has a plan. He is hopeful again, and it sounds like next semester he will be spending a lot of time at my friend's house, getting help and having fun while doing it. I hope my friend's wife doesn't mind. I might have to chip in for groceries. 

I am grateful that my village stepped up for me and grateful that my mom put me in a place where I had access to them. I am more grateful though that she showed me how amazing a community could be. 

Song of the Day:

My husband and I have been married for just about 20 years. There have been many ups and downs, happily many more ups than downs. As our kids are getting older, and we realize that soon it will just be the two of us, we have started to make plans. We have always erred on the side of caution and it looks like we might be getting ready to take a big next step. 

Starting Over by Chris Stapleton is all about that. The song was released in 2020 and features Stapleton's wife on the backing vocals. Between his outlaw country-style voice and the theme of the song being that we can do anything as long as we are together, it gives me hope that we will take that step in a few years.