When they say it takes a village, well, it certainly does. I often think about how fortunate we are to have so many people. Our people are amazing. And quite honestly, I’m not sure where we would be without them.
Part of our village, a big part I should clarify, is a group of mismatched individuals who all somehow found a way to each other. Some are blood by birth but all are family by choice. Some have known each other forever, some since childhood, some since high school, some since one random happening where a few souls decided to stick together. Over the years, we’ve attended each others weddings and started families, supported each other through the darkest of days and cherished enough memories to last a lifetime. And now we are privileged enough to watch our children grow together.
yToday was the first day of summer camp for my oldest and middle sons. In dropping them off, my middle son who suffers from separation anxiety was having an extremely hard time adjusting to a new place with new people. The camp counselors allowed me to come with him to his “pack” to help him settle. Upon arriving to the pack location, two of my nieces came running over. They are the same age as my middle son and would belong to the same pack together. They immediately began comforting my son, telling him about all the fun they would have that day. The camp counselor came over and the girls proclaimed “we are all cousins” to him. Then the each took one of my son’s hands and helped him off to his day while yelling “bye Auntie” over their shoulders.
And in the moment my heart burst and melted all at once.
How beautiful is it that these babies have each other to help them navigate new experiences? How lucky am I to be able to witness this kind of love and friendship?
My two nieces that helped my son share not one drop of blood with me, but they don’t know that. In fact I don’t think any of the children within this amazing group knows who they share blood with and who they don’t. All they know is they have an over abundance of aunties, uncles and cousins who provide more love, support, encouragement and camaraderie than they could ever really need.
At the end of the day, we are family, if not by blood then by choice. And isn’t that the point of life?
Tell me about your village!
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