Written by Karen Weido of Ting’s Mom

They say it takes a village to raise a kid. Sometimes it takes more than one village.

My mom was in high school when my grandpa’s job moved them to a small town in Alabama.  She met a guy – the tall, dark, and handsome type. She graduated high school and they got married. The apparent  ‘happily ever after’.

It was three-ish years later when they decided to start a family. It was during my mom’s pregnancy that my dad became ill and was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. In January their baby girl was born (that would be me!). By that time my grandparents and aunt had moved to Arkansas. My aunt was in college. My grandparents were practically done raising children – freedom in sight. But that summer they took in a six month old me.

In October of that year, my mom was 22 years-old, a widow, and mom of a nine month old. Who remembers themselves 22 years-old? Could you have done it?

My mom joined us in Arkansas and we all lived with my grandparents.  My mom got herself a job and enrolled in the local university. She went to school in the mornings, worked the 3-11pm shift, and studied/took care of me/tried to sleep during the remaining eight hours a day. The village stepped in. My grandparents, my aunt, neighbors,and church family all pitched a hand to make sure this baby girl was taken care of. My mom and I eventually moved (all the way across the street), but the village never let us down.

My mom remarried – a nice man who had a son my age, and had also lost his wife to cancer. He had a village as well. Their village took me in. My village took them in.

My amazing husband also came from a village. A host of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends. They also took me in when we were married. I love them all like I do my own family.

And now I find myself a mom. I have a completely different story than my mom but I still find myself in constant need of our village.

Our village includes our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. They keep our kids so they don’t have to be in daycare or with babysitters. Our village steps up to the plate every single day to make sure our kids have their every need, want, and wish met. Our village fixes things, gives us tips, motivates us, and provides constant support. Our village makes our like easy.

I will probably never know all the names of all the people who have been a part of my village during my life. I will never be able to thank my village enough for the roles they have played in all our lives. During this Thanksgiving season I am most grateful for my village.

 Karen Weido is a full time wife, full time mom, and works full time in Healthcare Marketing & Public Relations. She and her family live in Southwest Arkansas. She has been sharing her family’s stories and activities on Ting’s Mom Blog since 2010. In her spare minutes she tries to read, is learning to cook, and runs around in the backyard with her kids. Karen can also be found creeping around (and often posting) on Twitter and Instagram.