I Need a Village

Support is great. Whether it be in the form of an awesome group of friends, a mother who will always have your back or a great pair of Spanx, a good support system always makes life easier. I have a great group of friends, even though within the last two years it has dwindled down to only a core few who I can always count on. I have a mom as well as a mother-in-law who will always have my back, and best believe after two kids I own a pair of Spanx, but sometimes I still feel as though I am treading water.

I recently moved to a place that is an hour and a half away from my family and friends (and let me tell you, it's not until you move away that you find out who your real friends are) and even though I'm still within driving distance, some days I feel as though I might as well be in Timbuktu. The only ones I have at arm's length are my husband and my mother-in-law (yes, we get along just fine, thankyouverymuch) but my husband works crazy hours and my MIL is a very busy woman, so that leaves me. By myself. With my girls.

I am not complaining about being home all day with them (okay, maybe just a little) but it would be nice to have that proverbial village to help me raise my child. You know, like someone who could stay with the girls for five minutes while I run to the store to get that gallon of milk I forgot instead of having to get them ready, strap them into their car seats, drive to the store, take them out of their car seats, try to find a shopping cart with a seat that doesn't have gum, dried chocolate or that indeterminable goo stuck to the seat, make it to the refrigerated aisle without Leila begging for whatever is displayed on the shelves and without Mia standing up in the seat (because usually if the cart is clean it has no straps, and vice versa), wait in line while Mia has a fit because I won't let her get out of the cart, pay for the milk, go to the car, strap them in again and drive home.

It would even be nice to have someone who could entertain my children just long enough that I could do something simple, like wash the dishes before they pile to the ceiling, or cook [insert meal here] without Mia serenading me with her never-ending high-pitched wail that echoes through kitchen and verberates off the tile, all because she doesn't understand the concept of "wait." And yes, she will stand at the gate and cry the entire time I am in the kitchen, stopping only to breathe in and start again.

I would even be okay with having someone come over for just ten minutes, just so I can eat a meal in peace, while it's still hot, without anyone climbing over, yelling at, or just plain bothering me. Yes, that would be nice. Very nice indeed.

That being said I suppose I don't need that village. I'd be okay with just one person. Someone.

Anyone?