The house was dark and silent, but I was awake, trying to coax my baby back to sleep. As I rocked her, I felt exhausted, unsure of myself and completely alone.
And then, slowly, a beautiful idea came to my mind.
I wondered how many other parents in my neighborhood were up with kids — feeding, changing diapers, soothing bad dreams — at that very moment.
I began thinking of all the bleary-eyed moms and dads in my city and state up tending to their kids, and then across time zones to all the different instances of hands-on parenting going on right then around the world.
And I remembered I wasn’t alone.
When we’re in the trenches of parenting, it’s easy to feel isolated, like we’re the only ones facing a particular challenge. But it’s amazing how similar our situations are and how we want the same things for our kids — for them to be healthy, safe and loved. And how much community we can create when we realize we’re all in this together.
Don’t you feel a little spark of encouragement when another parent admits his toddler won’t give up the pacifier either? Or a surge of support when a fellow mom shoots you the been-there-before smile when your kid is screaming and throwing food out of the grocery cart?
And doesn’t it feel awesome to show other parents some love when they’re facing whatever issue seems overwhelming on a given day?
Parenting is tough, and wonderful, and often at the same time. So let’s cheer on — and be grateful for — others who are on this same wild ride.