It Really Does Take a Village…

Brooklyn’s First Cake

As is typical of most of our weekends, the whirlwind of activity blew through the beaches moving us from place to place and event to event. My parents flew into town (bringing with them the historic cold weather), we celebrated our awesome friend, Brenna Vriga, by helping throw a surprise 30th birthday for her, I ran a half marathon with the hopes of ending breast cancer despite near freezing temperatures and inspired two co-workers to run with me and, most amazingly, we celebrated my daughter’s first birthday. (Sidebar, note to self: Never, ever, ever be dumb enough to run a half marathon on the morning of your daughter’s first birthday. Okay, back to reality.)

Now that the low voltage hum surrounding our house has diminished just a little bit, I wanted to take a moment to write what I’ve been thinking and feeling in my heart. I keep coming back to a single thought:

It Really Does Take a Village to raise a child.

A favorite quote of mine is from George Burton Adams. He said, “There is no such thing as a ‘self-made’ man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”

I couldn’t agree more. And, it’s why I hate ego.

The success I’ve enjoyed in life is the direct result of others taking a keen interest in me and helping me to succeed. The same is true as we reflect on the past year with our child. Rachel and I may be the surrogates shepherding Brooklyn on a daily basis, but she is part of an AMAZING Village that stretches far and wide, in-person and virtually.

As I remind our Pediatrician, Brooklyn is one SEVEN BILLION people on Earth. We don’t actually think she’s the ‘Chosen One’, but Rachel and I think she’s pretty freaken cool. And, as luck would have it, we have tons of family and friends, who through the kindness of your actions and positivity of your thoughts have been an instrumental part of Brooklyn’s Village. I’m certain it’s why she’s so happy, why she loves being held, why she laughs far more than she cries, why she has the confidence to try without hesitation, why she never considers stopping no matter how many times she falls on her ass and why her overwhelming sense of joy and exploration makes hearts around her melt.

It’s because of you, Brooklyn’s Village, of why she’s so dang amazing. Yes, you.

From the bottom of my heart, to the tips of my toes, to the tears flowing down my cheeks (yes, high E moment), thank you so, so much for all your love and support – and extra efforts of thoughtfulness. I am forever grateful to all of you.