It Takes A Village

I feel like women did not talk about postpartum depression or even hormonal changes often. Maybe it is not that it was not talked about, maybe it was just talked about amongst their group or village.

Having young kids and working when daycare costs the same amount as multiple house notes, requires a village. Wanting to having a date night outside of the home with little ones requires a village. Keeping your sanity while staying home with young kids requires a village. You need women that will speak God's truth over you, pray over you, and remind you are not alone in this thing called motherhood!

There is no way we can do motherhood or womanhood alone. I just don't see it. It can be so difficult. A few weeks ago, I went from being fine, having minor bouts of postpartum depression to feeling great to just being in a funk out of no where. When you're in it, you don't feel like yourself. You feel like you are in someone else's body, trying to give that person a pep talk to get them out of the funk, and it just does not work.

I had to take a step back for a minute, because I was not okay. I had to make myself be honest with people closest to me and reach out on the days I really needed prayer. The feeling was temporary, and I am glad to say that I feel like me again. I just think about all the women that don't have anyone or feel like they have anyone.

There was an age where most women were home with the kids and grandmothers and great-grandmothers were nearby. In this decade, more mother's are outside the home ( possibly just a few weeks after birth) and made to feel as they have to be, grandmothers are younger and living their best lives, or more women are opting out of kids in order to have a career. Not that I am judging any of the choices women are making; I just feel we need to get back to the village mentality to have each others back.

I don't mean the false village mentality of mom groups that make you feel less than because you're not living in the biggest house and your husband is not making six figures. We need to get back to the village mentality to care for one another in all aspects and be completely honest about issues, faults, and hangups. It truly takes a village to raise kids. I believe children are healthier and better off along with their mothers when older and younger women come together and help one another. I will even admit I am not the best when it comes to communication and reaching out continuously, it is my goal to do better.