In the fall of 2008, we both became first-time moms whose friends and family lived far, far away. With no "village" of support in Austin, we desperately sought out other new moms with whom to mingle and grow.
But before we found our village, during the early months of motherhood, we were home alone with our babies. Trapped at home with questions, crying babies, and dirty diapers, we were desperate to find others like us. Through friends of friends, we gathered a group of five women doing exactly the same thing.
We hardly knew one another, yet we shared this common bond: first-time, stay-at-home moms in need of support, guidance--or just a chance to connect with women who were traveling the same road.
Tiziana
Our common bond was motherhood, but we each approached it differently and those differences made the conversations and gatherings ever more interesting. Some mommies used strictly cloth diapers, others strictly disposable and some both. Some mommies weaned their babies at 9 months, others at 19 months.
But these differences only gave us insight on different methods of parenting; techniques tried, failed or succeed.
Mostly what we got from this group was a collective appreciation for our newfound lifestyle and the support to keep us moving forward. We’d vent about long nights up with the baby, discuss how to deal with colic, test out/demonstrate techniques of baby massage while our babies laid on the floor next to one another, smiling, playing, crying, and sleeping.
Catherine
The weekly, two-hour meet-ups gave each of us a “safe-space” to breastfeed at will, look a little haggard, get a healthy meal and have an experienced mommy watch your child as you ran to the post office. This was our village! The proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child” was exemplified in our group.
Our “village” became the invaluable support that gave us strength in many weak moments. Through our early mommy moments, we realized the critical importance of support for first-time parents during the early months of transition.
We realized that proximity does matter, especially when battling cross-town traffic or children intolerant of car rides. We realized this serendipitous connection with other mommies made our own family, our children, ourselves as new mothers, far better people.
Now we are ready to share the village with all of you. We want to connect you with other families so you don't have to go it alone. We want you to meet your families match at A Family Village!
Whatever your phase of parenting, a village will help you raise a family!
Tiziana and Catherine
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