It Takes a Whole Village by Meagan Banks (libby ebook reader .TXT) 📖

"I'm leaving. I can do it on my own! I do not need anybody else's help." I said to my mother.

"No, you can't, honey! Get back here! You are too young to do this on your own!"

"I'm eighteen, mom!"

"Exactly! Please stay here! I can help you raise the child."

"No!" I ran out as fast as I could with my baby, Tommy, in my arms, so innocent-looking in his sleep. I started to cry as I set him down in his car seat. My mother does not understand how I feel. My child's father left us before Tommy was even born. I was a little lucky because I was able to graduate High School instead of having to drop out because of being pregnant. My mother then wanted to do everything for me, which was not so bad at first, but then it became annoying. I wanted to move out a long time ago, but she begged me to stay. Now I just can't take it anymore. I felt as though I was not even being my son's mother, instead my mother took my place and sent me off to get the groceries. That is why I am now on the highway driving to my new apartment.

When I got there, I unpacked everything and put Tommy in his crib to rest. I opened up my computer and searched 'Single Parenting' and many different things came up. I clicked on the first thing that popped up on my ancient computer screen. This is what it said:

Can you do it alone?
Well, no, I do not believe you can. It takes a whole village to make one child whole, to make him happy as can be....

That is as far as I read before I burst out crying. I seem to have been crying more than Tommy in the last week or so. Just those two small sentences opened my eyes. Even though they did not give much of an explanation, I understood what that person meant.

It takes an entire village to raise a child. Every person plays their part in his or her life. For one, me, the mother. I play one of the most important roles in the child's life, taking care of him until he can do it himself, and then comforting him when he needs it. There is the school, educating him and helping him build a better future. Doctors, nursing him back to health when he is sick. Businesses employing his family, and eventually him when he grows up. There are many other people involved in the development of a child, but there is just one that I am thinking about at this moment. His grandparents. They are perfectly designed to spoil him, and love him to death. I wait until the last tear runs down my cheek before I pick up the phone.

"Hello!"

"Mom? It's Lisa."

"Honey! Where are you?"

"At my new apartment. I just wanted to call.."

"Can you come home now please?" She interrupted in the calmest voice possible.

"I.. No. I would like to stay here. But, the apartment is only about ten minutes away from the house. But, I just wanted to call to say.."

"Okay. I guess that's fine. I love you." She interrupted, again.

"I'm sorry!" I yelled before she could interrupt again.

"What?"

"You were right, it takes a whole village. I love you too! Goodbye, mother." I did not want to stay on the phone long enough for her to say "I told you so!" but I knew she got the message.

Throughout the rest of my life I remembered that day, that time period in my life when I realized that no one can do anything alone. Tommy visited his grandparents every week, and he loved them very much, as well as many other friends and family in our town. Every night I tell him the story I have just told you, and he smiles just before he falls asleep, and his face turns into that of an innocent angel. An angel my whole village helped create.

Publication Date: 01-21-2010

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