Village Life
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 9:07PM There's a girl who lives down the hall. She loves pink, and Hello Kitty, and has shoes that glitter and shine when she walks. The Girl Down The Hall wears her hair in pigtails that tumble down her back and pool into perfect ringlets, brown and sweet. Each morning on the way to school, she gets into the car together with my daughter, and asks for Tu Tu Man (Ultra Man) on the DVD player. My girl calls for Tu Tu Man too, even though she's a bit scared of Japanese super heros.
The Girl Down the Hall taught mine to say "NO!" and mean it; how to snatch back a stolen toy; and to climb on the coffee table and not be afraid. And when I tell her we're going down the hall to see The Girl, Stella runs five paces ahead of me and laughs the whole way.
There's a boy down the hall. He's three years older than the Girl, and has a smile that will shatter you. He likes to ask why, and what's this, and to practice his golf swing. He'll furnish compliments on your shoes or your bag, then turn around and karate chop the air. My girl karate chops now, too.
I ran out of diapers yesterday at nap time. But I didn't worry, I ran down the hall with my girl on my hip, and borrowed two from The Girl and The Boy's mother. I didn't worry about ringing the bell, and waking them, or intruding on family time or otherwise putting them out. I knew they'd be happy to lend a diaper, chat for a moment, and then say, "Okay, see you tomorrow."
The Girl Down the Hall calls me Mama, or sometimes Auntie, but my husband is always Uncle Papi.
I picked up The Girl from school today, and only once did she ask where her Mommy was, then climbed into my lap. She shared a snack in the car with Stella, who remarked upon the fact that they both have curly hair.
We got home and I told The Girl's mother that I've found my village. She laughed at me, but I know she know's it's true.
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Reader Comments (10)
beautiful post. love your descriptors!
Finding your village is so important. We have still yet to find ours- truly- but I know that they are out there. And it does take a village to raise the kiddos. It is a beautiful thing.
Such is your story.
Alita
Oh, such a treasure! I'm in search...
Steph
My heart is smiling after reading this. So wonderful you all are finding a cozy spot in Jakarta!! And that Miss Stella has found some little friends.
So great that you have support!
http://normalchaosforamultitaskmom.blogspot.com/2012/09/soak-it-in.html
This is so beautiful! There is such amazing value in a village like this. I am so glad that you have found it!
xoxoxo love!
Yes! Thanks for the love. After three years in a social desert, you can't imagine how happy I am to have friends just down the hall whom I can pop over to and dorp my kid off, or share a meal with, or borrow a diaper from. IT's a revelation, and it makes life so much sweeter.
Oh! I must have missed this last week! I love it. I have yet to write about my village beause they are so dear to me and I always fear it coming out cliche "OMG! Mommy-friends and playdates are the BEST!", when it is so much more than that. I know exactly the feeling of humility and pride when a child who is not your own feels comfortable in your home and in your lap, and the feeling of gratefulness in having other mamas nearby and on your team. This is beautiful. :) xo
Thanks, Sarah. Yea, and my sense of awe and beauty about this whole set up is compounded by having spent three years in a social desert so I'm so aware of of my good fortune at having found this here. Really. I know how important it is and how lucky I am! Thankful! Stars. Unicorns. Puppy dogs. Rainbows.