Outside the village...

[jay]

I'm frankly envious of parents with community support... for example, dawnd and akienm are able to find a series of sitters for Allegra so that they could go to a weekend workshop in LA. Without having to, say, fly in Dawn's mother from back East... it's great for them, and I think they'll add a lot to that workshop. But I know that I couldn't do the same thing, and that Pat and I are pretty much on our own as far as child-raising goes... no net, here. When crises have hit, my only option has been to fly in one or the other grandmothers for a while, and/or take vacation time and stay home as well.

Still, that's a natural consequence of not being a part of any particular community, other than sort of tolerated on the fringes... I have only myself to reproach, arguably, for not giving enough or conforming sufficiently.

Comments

[who-is-she.livejournal.com]

well, I don't have kids, but this is the first thing that came to MY Mind too... that your situation is different.

I think it's realy good that your kids get so much time with their family, including having extended family care for them. Everything costs something. Even though you feel having more personal hands on care of your kids costs you jet setting trips to workshops in LA..... you know that your kids are truly well cared for. That is a very good thing.

Incidentally, I truly enjoyed having your kids here. :)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks -- they loved visiting there, both times. :)