Connected deeply and interdependently with community is self-care. This mom is sitting in a field by herself. Who is watching her kids?
In a village, there would have been other mothers who could step in and help out while someone took a break. We need that.
One of my favorite stories about community and self-care was when a group of friends decided to rotate to each other’s houses one day a week to give one mom whatever she needed. Some moms read and took a bath by themselves, others used the time to take a nap. The only rule was that the time was to be used for self-care, whatever that looked like for that mother at that time. It wasn’t a lot, but it was something everyone looked forward to. The other moms would work together to be with the children so one mom would have her turn.
If you don’t have a community like that yet, begin with a few minutes of self-care when you can. But remember that this parenting thing was never meant to be done alone, so keep looking for those people who can be with you and your family and support your need for self and community care!
