I put my daughter on a plane to Italy yesterday. She’s off on an amazing adventure to study abroad over the summer. I never did anything like this at her age so I’m intensely proud of her courage and bravery.

When I got home, I ran to the grocery store and bumped into a fellow mom whose kids are a little older than mine. I mentioned that I had just put my baby girl on a plane a few hours earlier and she must’ve heard the crackle in my voice because she asked if I cried. I nodded and then she added with beautiful enthusiasm… “Oh I bawled like a baby when I sent my daughter to Ecuador to study abroad”.

Standing in the meat department, my eyes began to leak again. We talked for about 10 minutes and then she gave me a big hug goodbye.

Somehow I felt better.

Later that evening, I texted her and thanked her for making me feel like a normal parent with normal emotions. I was so grateful for the grace and wisdom she gave me in that moment.

She simply texted back:
We are all in this together.

No truer words have ever been said.

Parenting is not a one person job. It’s a strong, supportive collective unit that acts as a navigation system letting us know we’re headed in the right direction. It’s people who cheer us on as we try to raise good and decent humans. It’s those we lean on when we need to know we are going to be okay.

Call it a village. Call it a tribe. Call it a pack. Call it (parent)hood. Whatever you call it, we need it.

Parenting is a transformative experience and having others share in the challenges and joys offers an unspoken understanding that is essential and invaluable.

It ties us together.

All day my phone pinged with people checking in to see how the drop off went and to check in on my girl. Friends, neighbors and family. Her village. People who care about her and will celebrate this journey, because they know how powerful an amazing life adventure can be for both kid and parent.

People who lovingly reminded me that we are all in this together.