The Reality of a Village

As it stands right now, my husband and I live apart. It’s not by choice, though. In early fall of 2022, my husband assisted as my son and I moved from southwest Ohio to southern Ontario (I’m Canadian, as is our son). Until he becomes legal, my husband still lives in the States. For Easter weekend, my husband visited. While the visit went well, it wasn’t until he left early Tuesday morning that an ugly truth reared it’s head.

We do have a better support system up here than we had in the States, but it’s still not where it needs to be. There are individuals who are willing to watch my son when needed, even if it’s only during times on certain days (most of those who are willing to help do work during the week, so help watching him is limited to weekends and the occasional weeknight). The biggest thing, though, is help around the house. Yes, my son does help (he’s 5 and we have encouraged him to help when he shows an interest). However, when the vast majority falls on my shoulders, the mental toll it takes on you can sometimes become overwhelming. That extra pair of hands can be extremely helpful and gives that extra breather that has been missing (and needed). So when that extra pair of hands disappears, it puts that extra mental load back on you. The extra work isn’t necessarily the problem. It’s the extra mental that you’re now required to carry again because there’s no one else available to help ease the load as you now go back to juggling it all while trying to find time for yourself.

Maternal Mental Health

When I had my son in 2017, little did I realize how big of an issue maternal health actually was. With as many as 1 in 5 women suffering from a maternal mental health disorder, such as postpartum depression, it is a serious health issue that needs to be openly discussed. With the sigma associated with any mental health disorder, there are campaigns to help destigmatize the subject. With too many individuals suffering in silence, voices need to be heard. If you, or someone you know, has a possible mental health issue, please seek support. Resources like The Blue Dot Project is a good way to start. No individual should be afraid to ask for help.

The Ability of Making Friends

For many, it seemed easy to make friends as a child. As you grew older and entered middle school (and later, high school), making friends wasn’t always easy (thanks to the socially awkward years).

As an adult, it seems even more difficult to make friends. As a socially awkward human, finding that niche hasn’t been easy. You’re seen as too normal, not normal enough, too weird, not weird enough. The list goes on. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

While some may find it easy to make new friends (I’ve known a few people who have the ability to make new friends in a nanosecond), not all of us have that ability. From playgroups to storytimes to apps (like Peanut), there are many ways that a parent (and child) can interact with others. What are some of your favourite ways to meet new people?