village - Boston MomsMy village has shown up so many times this year.

And recently, I gave in. I let them completely take over. 

About a month ago, I went to the emergency room late one night and didn’t return home for two days. I had appendicitis and needed emergency surgery.

When the surgeon visited my bedside, my mind started to go crazy

  • My hubby was starting a new job that would have him away from the house from 12-10 p.m.
  • The boys had school.
  • My oldest had a medical appointment for his newly broken wrist.
  • My youngest had T-ball and gymnastics.
  • I needed to bake a cake and cupcakes for a bridal shower.

I wasn’t thinking about my surgery. I didn’t have time to tend to my nerves. I needed to plan and figure out how we were going to survive the next few days while I was recovering. And, while I was trying to figure this out it was 4 a.m. and no one was awake to run plans by or help. (Yes, I drove myself to the hospital.) 

As it turned out, my surgery was a little more extensive than they thought, and recovery was going to be slow.

And that’s when they showed up — my village

My mom picked me up from the hospital so my husband could get the boys to school and daycare. 

My friend and his husband drove to the hospital later that day to get my car that had been abandoned two days ago.

Two of my boys’ friends’ moms drove them home from school and daycare.

My aunt and cousin came that night to help with dinner and bedtime — and they even folded my laundry! 

The next day, Saturday, the same friend who picked up my car from the hospital took my boys out for the day.

While they were gone, another friend arrived to help me bake. 

That evening, takeout arrived at the door. My cousin, who lives in D.C., sent dinner for us.

Then my brother, sister-in-law, and niece showed up to hang out and, once again, do the dinner and bedtime routine. 

Sunday, another friend, who has four children of her own, picked up my boys and took them back to her house for the day.

When I say I gave in to my village, I really did. Completely. Like so many of you, I am one who usually says, “No thanks” when people offer to help. This time I did not. I reminded myself that if they did not want to help, they wouldn’t offer.

I am very thankful for everyone who helped during this unplanned whirlwind and for those who continue to support my family during this crazy year we have had.

Krystal Avila
Krystal is a Massachusetts native who grew up in the 'burbs and is now loving the city life in Roslindale with her husband and 3 boys (9, 6, and 1). She and her husband met downtown working at a restaurant together, and since then their love of restaurants has kept their date nights exciting as they try out the latest places. Learning Spanish has been something Krystal has loved ever since middle school, and that has become her passion as a Spanish teacher, wife to a Salvadoran, and mother raising her children bilingual. Loves: family, friends, playing with her kids, a comfy hoodie on the beach when the sun goes down, nachos, baking, Christmas movies. Not so much: loud music, putting away laundry, terrible threes, and black pepper.

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