FAMILY PATHS
A WARM PLACE FOR PARENTS
The year was 1974. First Lady Hillary Clinton’s famous phrase, “It takes a village” had not yet infiltrated the nation with the idea that being part of a connected community is vital to health and peace.
Yet one mother — feeling stressed, alone, and slowly going out of control with her young son — knew that was exactly what she needed. She needed a community that would listen and care.
How did she discover that invaluable help? From her own desperate actions.
One day she suddenly realized that, in her frustration and stress, she was hitting her toddler’s head on the floor. Horrified, she called a friend who talked with her and helped soothe the mother’s frustration, isolation, and stress. That compassionate response woke that young mother up to the power of simple listening: it eased her emotions and helped her see things in a new way.
She began to talk to people around her, and they listened. They shared their wisdom and knowledge. They helped put her overwhelm into perspective. Their caring helped her calm down, think better, and react differently with her son.
This mother realized two things: she was not alone in feeling out of control with her child, and peers can help each other.
