It takes a village to raise a baby
This musing came about whilst spending time with my daughter. I found myself reflecting on something that parenting has taught me.
Raising a baby or a child is not a solo pursuit.
Nor is it meant to be.
As parents we often put pressure on ourselves to have all the answers, do everything perfectly and carry every responsibility on our own shoulders. Yet the more I journey through motherhood, the more I realise that children were never meant to be raised by one person alone.
There is an old saying:
“It takes a village to raise a baby”
I would also add :
“It takes a village to raise a child”
because children continue to need that village as they grow.
Teamwork and Parenting
Parenting has taught me the importance of teamwork. It has taught me to communicate better, respect different views, establish healthy boundaries and work alongside others for the wellbeing of my child.
No one person can provide everything a child needs. Family, friends, teachers, healthcare providers, neighbours and community groups all play a role in helping children thrive.
The truth is that parenting becomes much lighter when we stop trying to carry it all alone.
The Village Doesn’t Just Apply to Parenting
The more I reflected on the idea of the village, the more I realised that it goes far beyond raising children.
In truth, it takes a village for the world to function. We are all connected. We are all part of one big team.
Without doctors, nurses, teachers, supermarket workers, delivery drivers, electricians, plumbers, farmers, builders, cleaners, refuse collectors and countless others, our daily lives would quickly come to a standstill.
Every day, we benefit from the efforts of people we may never meet.
None of us truly live independently. We rely on one another far more than we often realise.
As Helen Keller wisely said:
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Whether in parenting, family life, friendships, community or business, meaningful things are rarely achieved alone.
As Steve Jobs once said:
“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.”
I believe the same is true in life.
Great things are built through teamwork. In fact, my daughter often reminds me of this when she proudly says:
“Teamwork makes the dream work.”
And honestly, she’s right.
Allow your village in
When it comes to parenting it is important to allow your village in.
For a long time, I struggled with asking for help. Because of experiences in my life, asking for support felt uncomfortable and sometimes scary. I believed I had to manage everything myself. But the experience of being a parent to my daughter has taught me differently. She has taught me to ask for help, accept help and allow help in. I want her to see that as a strength and never be afraid to ask when she needs support.
I now remind myself:
“It takes a village to raise a baby. It takes a village to raise a child. In truth, it takes a village to support us all throughout our lives.”
Life was never meant to be lived alone.
It is, and always has been, a team effort.
With Love
WW Rachael xx
