The Neighborhood Mom
I always knew I was going to be super involved with our kids. I volunteer at school, know who their friends are, give them an open space to talk, and just know what is going on in their lives in general. What I wasn’t prepared for was becoming the neighborhood mom.
When we moved into our home, I didn’t think that I would unofficially adopt more children. We knew there were a few kids in the neighborhood, but we weren’t familiar with them. It started with one child and soon that child brought a friend who brought a friend. Slowly but surely, other boys started showing up on our doorstep asking if they could come in and play with our kids.
There are times when our house is full of chaos and boys running around looking for snacks in the pantry. We have had our backyard full of dodgeball games and batting practices. Now that we have a pool, they are over even more during the summer. And even though it is extremely hectic, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
You see when my kids are home and they bring their friends over, I know that they are all safe. I know what they are doing and where they are. There have been many times after school that the neighborhood boys all come over to hang out and I am cooking dinner. The next thing I hear is “That sure smells good.” A few moments after is a hint that they want to stay a little longer and before you know it, we have extra guests seated around the dinner table. Although this may be unplanned, I’m okay with it because I know not only are my kids being fed and spending time with their family, but someone else’s child is also fed and safe.
I really want every kid that enters our home to feel just that – like they are at home. That’s probably at least one reason why they keep coming back. They know in our house they can have fun but will also be expected to follow the same rules our children do. Their parents also know where to find them and I think that is a relief for them as well.
This world is scary and too many bad things happen to kids. Knowing that our home is a safe place for a few kids in the neighborhood is worth it. So, we will continue to invite them over for playtime, dinner, sleepovers, and more because it’s so important that every neighborhood has at least one house or family that is the “go-to” for anything the kids may need. They say it takes a village to raise kids and that is true and having a neighborhood mom is an important part of that village.
