The concept of it has always been a goal of mine, though it’s always seemed very far off to me. My family isn’t exactly large and sometimes I feel like a solitary hermit life would suit me better since I don’t want a whole lot of drama in my life. Conflict is unavoidable, but the drama mentality is hard for me to be near. Then, with traveling community could be accomplished in caravan, but I’ve never meshed very well for very long. Maybe you’re familiar with my thoughts that I want to encourage more people to be part of my tribe or community through contributions of time, love, shares, or money. Besides my writing and arts and crafts, I feel that sharing smiles and joy and new perspectives are a wonderful exchange, sometimes just being the listening and understanding ear. At any rate, my existence seems to have brought some sort of satisfaction for quite a few people.
I’m ALWAYS looking for new projects and ways of giving back. This new thought and project took some emotional processing time and a whiny reaching out post to get to.
It wasn’t long before a couple people commented sympathizing and offering help. And now I’ve made this post in a Parent Group:
Hey parents! Some of you may know me, but if not I hope to get to know you that dont. Bear with me for a moment!
I had a somewhat breakdown today, over-worked, no kid-free time, finding it hard to ask others to look after my kids even for short times partially because it just isnt part of my reality.
I posted on my page and the result was so many mama’s feeling the same way and an outpouring of love, leading to my idea forming.
If you know me at all, you know I’m a traveling mama of 2 so I get around a lot of places. In general a major concept in my travels is to share my experience and enable others to think outside their boxes, and bringing smiles to as many faces as possible (while educating the kids and seeing as much of the world as possible.) Through these travels, I’ve met many beautiful people (some of you in here) and that means the people reaching out on my post are spread pretty far apart but the idea!
I want to include more parents in my tour. I see plenty of cool things around and maybe theres a chance to give others a break while occasionally getting a break too!
I want you to drop your location, as close as you feel comfortable be it region of a certain state or town and when I get close to you we make plans to a)do something fun together as a group with kids b) have some adultish chill time with kids “present” (off to bed, preoccupied, sober enough to deal with kids) c) give you some time where you can be kid free and I have all the kids d) have some time myself without kids
It’s all meant to be trust building and steps towards a community of sorts
Even if or especially if you’re traveling and feel like this is something you’d like to get in on?
I feel like this is a great extension that will simply fit into my agenda especially with lots of love and light. I’ve already got a few replies on it and really hope to get to see this grow to overwhelming proportions. Once again, it’s a task that is more likely to bring joy than monetary value, but I think the best ideas do.
The kids will get to make more friends and with such gain more perspective and learn random and amazing things. Adults get a chance to connect to each other and find a pleasant chance for some self care. Give us a chance to be humans together and help each other out.
I’m already beyond stoked to meet these parents and their littles.
I feel super silly for taking so long to get to this thought, especially when looking back, I could’ve probably found some chances to have someone watch the kids for me, but it just seemed odd timing or what would I do with myself? And today I got to the point where I’d just set myself into a coffee shop and people watch for 3 hours, or go alone to a club (it’s been over 7 years since I was in a club and felt like dancing, and that mountain party made me hungry for more dancing with people instead of only by myself)
So atlasobscura.com will be my go to for off the beaten path sights, always try to hit bigger tourist attractions too, winding my way from one family to the next to the east coast with a slow roll through the south for the winter, though all I’m missing is (still) proper propane connections to the heater buddy so maybe we won’t be so cold sensitive this winter? and hopefully manage to work our way back in a “nice” circle around the US.
What do you think of this idea? Would you join such a community? What would be your biggest worry about it?
At this moment, the kids are in bed listening to the Chronicles of Narnia. Rhea’s going to surgery for her teeth tomorrow. Then, thursday I go in for my teeth. After that we’ll see what I can make out of the rest of this summer for the kids especially. ❤
I hope you stay grateful and know you’re loved ❤
Matilda the Bugus 