Today makes a full week school has been out due to a teachers strike. I’ve been helping out a some of my friends with childcare because not everyone can take this much time off or can work from home. So, three extra kids in the house.
I feel for the households where taking several days off can mean missing a payment or even cost them their job. That’s most people. Yes even in two parent households. Hate to break it to some of y’all but in real life, not everyone has the luxury of choosing to not work. Idealistic philosophies only go so far when you need a roof over your head in a good school district and to put decent food on the table for the children you love.
People’s circumstances aren’t always political statements or even reflective of their ideals. They’re a result of (hopefully) doing the best you possibly can with what you have.
I‘ve always prioritized working from home so I can drop my daughter off in the morning and be the one who picks her up from school every day at 2, so we can be together for the rest of the day. What do other families do after school is done when they’re still at work? What do other single parents do who are working until 6? Truly, I see you.
I wouldn’t be able to have the life I have without my community. It’s the biggest reason I haven’t left Portland, despite being otherwise over it here. I don’t care about the wide network of social acquaintances and party friends. I’ve got a solid community of real, beautiful friendships that have been strengthened over many years of time. We’ve watched each others children grow up, we’ve seen each other through boyfriends, weddings, divorces, surgeries, moves, breakdowns and breakthroughs.
No matter what your situation is, the importance and even necessity of having quality, sincere friendships cannot be overstated. It’s one thing to socialize and connect and another thing when you’ve got to choose between your kids and your job. Who shows up for you then?
Online friendships and virtual communities are legitimately important, I think, and are very real in their impact on us. That said, there are only so many ways virtual connections can offer support and people can only know you to a certain extent. You can know someone online for 10 years and even meet them a few times and still not really know them or their lives. Hell, you can know someone in real life or be related to someone for 10 years and still not really know them.
Real friendships are actually a non bullshit example of the proof of work metaphor. They can’t be bought, they can only be earned. You can’t larp your way through them. Time reveals truth.
I’m grateful for what I can do for mine, and what they have done for me. Even as I sit here listening to what sounds like the ceiling about to fall in on me as the kids are doing god knows what upstairs.
Few things feel as good as full house.
