I just heard from my friend Laura. She and I met about 22 years ago in a La Leche League meeting. She had recently moved to North Carolina from California and we had relocated from Florida. Zach was a toddler and her daughter Rachel was a preschooler.
As our friendship developed, Laura and I went on to start our own La Leche League group together. For those who don't know, LLL is a breastfeeding support group. She and I were both passionate about supporting and empowering moms to meet their breastfeeding goals. I'll never forget the time she and I visited one of our members in the hospital after she gave birth to a 28 week preemie. Boy that was rough. And then there was the time one of our members' (who was also a friend) almost 2 year old daughter was struck by a car in a freak accident and died instantly. God that was hard.
But in addition to some emotionally challenging times, we had lots of good times - joyous times - together. We started our New Year's Eve party tradition with the Farkases. When our kids were young they would come over and play scrabble late into the evening, drink good wine and eat delicious food. Those parties grew in size from our two families to more friends. I think the Farkases came almost every year until they moved to Indiana a few years ago. We also enjoyed trips to the beach together over the years, Thanksgiving celebrations and more.
We started launching our kids before they moved out of state. Since Rachel was a couple years older than Zach, Laura paved the way for me in just about everything. Her experiences and knowledge helped me immensely as my children started moving toward high school graduation and heading off to college. Even after her move, I count on her guidance and support, and sometimes just her empathetic ear. We don't see each other as often but when we do it's easy to pick up where we left off. It's the same with our phone chats. I'm thankful for that!
Laura now has 2 college graduates, and I have one graduate and one college sophomore. We've come a long way together - from having babies and adjusting to motherhood to finding new careers, launching our children, experiencing the growing pains in our marriages.
So maybe you can understand my delight when I got the text that said, "I just heard from Zach. He'll be staying with us on his way to Madison."
See, Zach is going on an adventure. He leaves Charleston where he's been for the last 5 + years to head to Madison, Wisconsin where he'll be doing some work with pollinators (as in bees). It's a short stint - 9 months - and is part of his process to decide about graduate school. I am so excited for him. He's young. He's smart. The world is his oyster. And now is the time to try some of these things. Plus, I spent summers in Wisconsin as a child. My dad lived in Milwaukee for many years (my brother was born there), and my sister Sherry and I would visit each summer. I have nostalgic memories of those visits. I'm excited for Zach to get to experience that part of the country.
And as he sets off for this adventure, I feel all warm inside (I think that's called gratitude) knowing he will have the hospitality of friends he literally grew up with to send him on his way. I find this simple detail, that he'll be stopping at the Farkases in route to Madison, to be remarkable. It illustrates to me a sense of community that we've all been so fortunate to have with friends and family. (Plus, they are only a few hours away should he need them, along with cousins in Chicago and Minneapolis, too. Moms take comfort in these small things.)
I reckon it's another manifestation of "it takes a village." Laura and I were a part of each other's village starting back when our children were babies. But new parents aren't the only ones who need a village. We need each other all along the way, including when our parents are growing old and dying, when our children are growing up and leaving the nest, when we become grandparents ourselves (God willing).
I have many examples like this with both Olivia and Zach, and even with our dog, Reuben. And I'm looking forward to many more. So thank you to all my friends and family who are part of my village. I love you and cherish our relationships. I hope I am able to return the favor of being part of your village, too. We have plenty of empty beds should you or your children be passing through!
As our friendship developed, Laura and I went on to start our own La Leche League group together. For those who don't know, LLL is a breastfeeding support group. She and I were both passionate about supporting and empowering moms to meet their breastfeeding goals. I'll never forget the time she and I visited one of our members in the hospital after she gave birth to a 28 week preemie. Boy that was rough. And then there was the time one of our members' (who was also a friend) almost 2 year old daughter was struck by a car in a freak accident and died instantly. God that was hard.
But in addition to some emotionally challenging times, we had lots of good times - joyous times - together. We started our New Year's Eve party tradition with the Farkases. When our kids were young they would come over and play scrabble late into the evening, drink good wine and eat delicious food. Those parties grew in size from our two families to more friends. I think the Farkases came almost every year until they moved to Indiana a few years ago. We also enjoyed trips to the beach together over the years, Thanksgiving celebrations and more.
We started launching our kids before they moved out of state. Since Rachel was a couple years older than Zach, Laura paved the way for me in just about everything. Her experiences and knowledge helped me immensely as my children started moving toward high school graduation and heading off to college. Even after her move, I count on her guidance and support, and sometimes just her empathetic ear. We don't see each other as often but when we do it's easy to pick up where we left off. It's the same with our phone chats. I'm thankful for that!
Laura now has 2 college graduates, and I have one graduate and one college sophomore. We've come a long way together - from having babies and adjusting to motherhood to finding new careers, launching our children, experiencing the growing pains in our marriages.
So maybe you can understand my delight when I got the text that said, "I just heard from Zach. He'll be staying with us on his way to Madison."
See, Zach is going on an adventure. He leaves Charleston where he's been for the last 5 + years to head to Madison, Wisconsin where he'll be doing some work with pollinators (as in bees). It's a short stint - 9 months - and is part of his process to decide about graduate school. I am so excited for him. He's young. He's smart. The world is his oyster. And now is the time to try some of these things. Plus, I spent summers in Wisconsin as a child. My dad lived in Milwaukee for many years (my brother was born there), and my sister Sherry and I would visit each summer. I have nostalgic memories of those visits. I'm excited for Zach to get to experience that part of the country.
And as he sets off for this adventure, I feel all warm inside (I think that's called gratitude) knowing he will have the hospitality of friends he literally grew up with to send him on his way. I find this simple detail, that he'll be stopping at the Farkases in route to Madison, to be remarkable. It illustrates to me a sense of community that we've all been so fortunate to have with friends and family. (Plus, they are only a few hours away should he need them, along with cousins in Chicago and Minneapolis, too. Moms take comfort in these small things.)
I reckon it's another manifestation of "it takes a village." Laura and I were a part of each other's village starting back when our children were babies. But new parents aren't the only ones who need a village. We need each other all along the way, including when our parents are growing old and dying, when our children are growing up and leaving the nest, when we become grandparents ourselves (God willing).
I have many examples like this with both Olivia and Zach, and even with our dog, Reuben. And I'm looking forward to many more. So thank you to all my friends and family who are part of my village. I love you and cherish our relationships. I hope I am able to return the favor of being part of your village, too. We have plenty of empty beds should you or your children be passing through!