They say it takes a village. But for what, exactly? Raising kids, right?
As parents, we’re all just doing the best we can. But wow—times have changed. I remember having my first child and thinking, “Why do I need help? I should be able to figure this out on my own.” I quickly learned how humbling parenthood can be.
Historically, moms weren’t balancing full-time careers alongside dads. There was often more built-in support. When our first child was born and I was home on a short leave, we leaned heavily on our parents. Sure, we could’ve managed on our own—but having that extra set of hands (and wisdom) made all the difference as we navigated those early days of sleepless nights and constant learning.
As the kids have grown, I’ve realized the village doesn’t go away—it just changes shape. Now, it’s made up of friends and their families, teammates, coaches, teachers, neighbors. Sometimes, our kids rotate between houses, forming bonds with adults who aren’t us—and we’ve done the same with their friends.
We only have two biological kids, but by proxy, we’ve gained many more. My cousin’s children. Our son’s best friends. Acquaintances who’ve become like family. It’s a beautiful, chaotic, unexpected blessing.
Tonight, we celebrated our son’s best friend turning 18. We gathered with his parents, extended family, and friends. And while we didn’t raise him from day one, the pride we felt watching him reach this milestone was real. He’s a good kid…an amazing human. One we’ve had the privilege of watching grow and mature over the past decade.
We’ve only played a small role in his life—but even from the sidelines, it’s been a joy to witness. We respect his parents deeply, especially in how they’ve taught him to navigate conflict and communication—skills that have directly impacted his friendship with our son.
As the boys headed off to another friend’s house to spend the night, we parents lingered a little longer. We swapped stories, reflected on the ups and downs, and laughed about the moments that once felt like chaos but now feel like core memories.
It really does take a village—and I’m so grateful for ours. We were never meant to do this alone—and thank God we don’t have to.
To every person who has loved our kids like their own—thank you. You are our village, and we couldn’t do this without you.