Celebrating Those Who Support Parents and Children
“A-boo, A-boo, A-boo, read me a story!” implores my two-year-old niece Lillian Claire. Having earned the nickname “A-boo” (from the game of peekaboo) over the years, I’ve become a special friend to Lily and her two older brothers.
I’ve spent many afternoons riding bicycles, playing board games, helping serve meals, and otherwise bonding with my niece and nephews while my brother and sister-in-law work or run errands.
My brother and sister-in-law are by no means the only young parents relying on others to support them in raising their children. A 2024 study cited in the New York Post showed that parents who work outside the home and have kids under the age of ten rely on a network of about six people. These include relatives, friends, and neighbors.
Parents Need Support
Indian women posing with their small children
The concept of a “village” of people surrounding and helping out parents is not new. Although the proverb’s actual origin is unknown, anthropologists believe that it comes from ancient African or Indigenous American culture. And parents around the world still seek out companionship and assistance.
A 2022 paper in Frontiers in Public…
