We live three blocks from the elementary school entrance. Most mornings, the MPM drops Megs off on his way to catch the commuter bus, with a firm 7:30 departure. When he’s out of town, as he is yet again this week, I bundle Kira up, still in her pj’s, and we three careen out the door and down the hill in the jog stroller usually at about 7:40.
This morning, lordamighty, Megs was up and dressed and breakfasted by 7:20. Never happens. However, Kira was still sound abed, which is equally rare.
I decided to wait until 7:25 and then call the next-door neighbor, mom to Megs’ dear friend, and ask if she would mind taking my girl too.
At 7:22 the phone rang. It was NDN, saying she’d slept late, her little one was still asleep, her husband was out of town, and would I be able to take her big girl with me?
I laughed and said Sure, and how bout you can do tomorrow?
After hanging up, realized an even better option lay in another call:
And indeed, both girls walked with the up-the-street neighbor and his kindergartner. Voila, a village.
And Kira slept until almost 8a.m. which is pretty much a record for her, and woke up even happier than usual, which is sayin something.
It was a good start to the day.
October 27, 2009 at 3:32 pm |
We have a little village, too. My big girls and the neighbors two kids and another neighbor’s daughter all go to the same school, which is walking distance. We take turns transporting the kids, and it works wonderfully. Our little extended family is the main reason we’re hesitant to move, despite the desperate need for more space.
October 27, 2009 at 5:34 pm |
That is almost fairytale-like, what with the friendly neighbors & late sleeping little ones.
We don’t really have next door neighbors, but I guess the grandparents we so heavily rely upon are our version of the fairytale. Altho I guess our distant neighbors are still there at the drop of a hat when your tractor gets stuck or your pigs get loose or something.
I like hearing tales of neighbors helping neighbors. Heck, neighbors even *asking* neighbors for help, because it seems like it doesn’t always happen like it used to. Feels old-fashioned.
October 28, 2009 at 12:42 am |
Love it. Some day, we too!!
October 28, 2009 at 2:21 am |
Neighbors, you gotta have ‘em. And it must be so nice to live that close to school! We would definitely walk if we could, but we’re a couple of miles away.