It takes a village. I remember hearing this phrase a lot. The other day it hit me that my experience was the perfect example of this saying.
Just last week I met a friend at the mall and we walked around from video game store to candy machines to ride on animals and trains in an effort to entertain our kids while we got some errands completed together. We mainly just wanted to chat and spend time with one another which normally doesn’t happen with toddlers. Even though we had multiple “squirrel” moments, we somehow managed to have a few conversations that were not completely broken. We were able to catch up, a little bit, let the kids get some energy out, and accomplish a few things lingering on our to-do lists.
After the mall, we were planning on going our separate ways for nap time, but she called me and said she needed to go to another store and wanted to know if we could take turns going in since it was nap time. We could leave the kiddos comfortably in the car while we each went in and got what we needed. I said, well yeah brilliant idea! What a friend, I thought as I hung up the phone. She even let me go in first; she’s a real keeper!
Good friends are hard to come by these days. It’s incredibly complicated to be a mom and try to have your kids along for a day filled with errands. Between meltdowns, diapers changes, car seats and snacks, I’m usually ready to call it quits after the first stop. It can be really exhausting. But when you have a friend with you, suddenly it doesn’t seem that bad. Someone to relieve you when you need go to the bathroom instead of holding it because you don’t know what your toddler will lick inside the bathroom stall. Or finally getting to eat your own food because you’re not alone tending to kids and neglecting your own meal. It’s nice to be together and co-parent; I really enjoyed it!
Whew…it really does take a village to raise these little people. It was a jam-packed day, but it was time well spent surrounded with friends… just what we needed! I will always say yes to a play date/joint shopping trip/errands with another adult! Thank God for good friends… this ones for you, Jen!
