SAHM and Community

I've always worked in communities, but to some degree have been on the outside looking in. I guess when we were kids were were strongly attached to our community but as we grew up and moved into fulltime work the community had less of a stronghold.

Now as a Mum, working part time (at a Kindy within our community) I have realised just what a wonderful thing it is. Picking up kids after school, chatting with other Mums, siblings mixing and support offered. I now have plenty of people that my children know and trust, and if I'm running late to school pick up I know that I have other parents I can call on to help.

Both my kids have gone to daycare part time, that is I pick the hours and the majority of the children at the centre are there all day. I barely met any other parents as our pick up/drop off times were different. There were no time for catch ups as everyone was working and kids days were filled up with care and weekends catching up on everything else.

In complete contrast has been Kindy. At our Kindy there are set sessions- four year olds go in the mornings and the three year olds attend the afternoon. Often the best networking happens when we're waiting to pick up our kids from the last mat time. It is easy to get to know parents this way and easy for the kids to meet their friends parents. Play afternoons are arranged after Kindy and carpooling shared.

As a Teacher, I've also noticed the difference at Kindy when kids are bonded with their community. You can tell the ones that catch up outside Kindergarten- they all hang out. It is much harder for those who aren't 'known' in out of Kindy circles. My son has gone to school with whole network of Kindy friends. Loved kids from great families. He knows this is his community. The local Santa Parade is a testament to this. The kids are constantly waving to other families that they know.

I feel sad for the community vibe our grandparents were proud of. It's going. Living in our city, two full time incomes is becoming essential for providing the basics. Mums and Dads are rightly keen to continue their careers and choices are diminishing. I am so lucky to be working in a place where I can also network within my community and reap the benefits of this. Communities are becoming less centred around locality and more related to work and meeting places. Perhaps I'm old fashioned at heart, but I'm loving my community.