I am very lucky to have a "village"! When you think of the word it self it is very much about a "place" like the dictionary defines it....
Village
–noun
1.
a small community or group of houses in a rural area, larger than a hamlet and usually smaller than a town, and sometimes (as in parts of the U.S.) incorporated as a municipality.
2.the inhabitants of such a community collectively.
3.a group of animal dwellings resembling a village: a gopher village. –adjective
4.of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a village: village life.
I like this more...
村庄
This is the Chinese symbol for it.
Look the figures look like they are holding hands the they building upon on another. That is what my village does. So you might ask where is your village you live in a large city in a major metro area. My village is more of a "pie in the sky" type of thing. You know those little halo's that follow your character on a video game... that is is about how it is.
You see I have a village of friends and family that have the same goals and ideas on how to raise our kids. My village started when my oldest two went to preschool but didn't really fully form until the kids grew a little more as did our friendships and relationships. The members of my village are there for me, I have to get two kids to two different places at the same time....one of the villagers is always there to help. I need to figure out what homework is due, my village is the fastest way. Need to find out what needs to brought to girl scouts tonight they are there. A shoulder to cry on... there they are, a drink after a long week you guessed it I call on the village. There are many children in our village, the great thing is you can see that sense of community in them when they branch out in the larger groups they belong to. They stand up for each other, they know they always have someone to talk to. If a mom is running late they know who to ask "is she coming? Are you taking me home" they know the elders in the village and wouldn't hesitate to ask for help from any of them. They are great kids the kids in our village. Some are in the same grade and class others on the same teams. The oldest child in the village will be going to high school next year (gasps) the youngest is Max, don't tell him he has no clue.
Ultimately the village is about give and take, being there at just the right time, knowing in a moment you can call them and they will be there.
Do you have a village? I sure hope so it would be a lonely world without one!
