July Photo Prompt: The Village

They say it takes a village

to raise a child.

Dads – you’re great, but it’s generally mums

rushing here and there

juggling schedules

and route maps

to find the quickest way from

A to B

where your child was meant to be

fifteen minutes ago

but the clubs overlap

and the traffic is bad

and your toddler is having a meltdown.

That’s when the village steps in:

‘My child goes there too, I’ll drive them both;

I can do the school run and walk them there with mine;

You go to your meeting and I’ll have the kids until you’re done.’

‘I’m running late, my car had a puncture.’

‘Don’t stress, I’m at the gate. I’ll take them back to mine and feed them.’

One less thing to worry about.

Mums supporting other mums,

not judging when the tears come

just there

with a cup of coffee

a solution to try

an ‘I’ve been there too’

And the children step up.

Someone was mean to me today, but my friend stuck by me

I was upset, but my friend made it better

I struggled but my friend explained

A tight-knit group

Which bears no grudge

standing back to back, repelling boarders

defending their moments of weakness

their vulnerabilities

their quirks

Tolerating

Accepting

Loving

A village is its people,

Its generations,

Its warriors of the future.