769. It takes a whole village to raise a child. ~Igbo and Yoruba (Nigeria) Proverb

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Everyone in the family participates especially
the older children, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even cousins.
It is not unusual for children to stay for long periods with
their grandparents or aunts or uncles.
Even the wider community gets involved
such as neighbors and friends.
Children are considered a blessing
from God for the whole community.
~Edited excerpt
by Rev. Joseph G. Healey

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The ancient human social construct that once was common in this land was called community. We lived among our villagers, depending on them for what we needed. If we had a problem, we did not discuss it over the phone with someone in Mumbai. We went to a neighbor. We acquired food from farmers. We listened to music in groups, in churches or on front porches. We danced. We participated. Even when there was no money in it. Community is our native state. You play hardest for a hometown crowd. You become your best self. You know joy. This is not a guess, there is evidence. The scholars who study social well-being can put it on charts and graphs. In the last 30 years our material wealth has increased in this country, but our self-described happiness has steadily declined. Elsewhere, the people who consider themselves very happy are not in the very poorest nations, as you might guess, nor in the very richest. The winners are Mexico, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the kinds of places we identify with extended family, noisy villages, a lot of dancing. The happiest people are the ones with the most community. ~by Barbara Kingsolver

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12   ✝

**Images via Pinterest, collage created by Natalie

22 thoughts on “769. It takes a whole village to raise a child. ~Igbo and Yoruba (Nigeria) Proverb”

  2. I remember as a young one, my cousins and I could wander all over the little town we were in and not have a care in the world. Our parents would know were ever we where and not have to worry. The neighbors and store owners would let them know if we were up to mischief or would step in if in danger. Those were the good old days for sure.

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  7. Beautiful post Natalie, and so true. However now days this does not happen. Families do not live close to each other and I believe it is due to the economy. Women work full time, children are latch key. It takes effort and hard work to raise a family in this manner. I long for a gentler time when I came home to the smell of bread baking in the oven. I am always wishing all of my children and grands lived on the same block. Sadly they don’t. I am fortunate to have my daughter and her family only ten minutes from me. I tend to the older one 8 and the 11 month old daily, we are all loving it. :o)

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    • Thank you, Patricia. You’re right that much of the community we knew is gone and perhaps forever, but I see a new kind of community that could come of the internet and the fact that we can be in touch with people all over the world instantly. Even though our families live farther apart, cell phones and emails and facebook make it very very easy to be in touch almost instantly. Thanks for the comment and I’m so glad your daughter and her family live close. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤

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