The phrase "it takes a village" has become a galvanizing term in the world of parenting. Once understood as a sort of folksy, aw-shucks, last episode of Gilmore Girls-esque testament to community has now become a pain point for many parents raising young children. The idea behind "the village" is having a network of childcare support that is more relational than transactional, harkening back to the days when we lived in villages and raised children communally.
The key facet of that idea, though, is reciprocity. Sure, your aunt will cook your kid dinner, but the next day she might expect you to watch her kids in return. It's a beautiful culture of symbiosis-- a key feature that seems to be lost on the subject of this recent Reddit post. Also, that participating in "the village" necessitates some relinquishing of control. Such is the nature of letting other people watch your kids. But things, of course, get messy. Read on for details.
Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.