What Happened to the Village?

February 24, 2024 4:41pm CST
I can remember when I was a little girl, my mom and her best friend would get together and do everything together. Our families never sat down and ate dinner together, but my mom and her best friend would either meet at our house, or hers. They would make dinner together, laugh and drink wine and discuss their days while they did so. Then either mom would load up some food and bring it home, or her best friend would load up and take food home, depending on whoever's house they were at. They would get together and clean each other’s houses, do all the housework together. There were days they got out of the house and did things together. My mom’s best friend became my Godmom and her daughters my Godsisters. No matter how busy life got, they made time to be with each other. My hope was that me and my Godsisters would grow up and continue where our mothers left off, but we didn’t. We moved far away from each other and started our own lives, one I don’t even speak with anymore because of a huge falling out, and the other one we speak every blue moon. I have kids and neither of them have kids, but man I wish we could get together and do the things our moms did. There have been discussions, but no follow through. What has recently bothered me though, is that my oldest son just graduated earlier last month. I posted it on Facebook, and my god sister replied to tell my son congratulations. When I did , his response was ‘ Who is that lol? But tell them I said thank you.’ I almost started crying right then and there. Because I just expected my godsister to be around to watch my kids grow up, and if she ever had kids, I wanted to be there to watch them grow up as well. Yet that’s not our reality. I am getting older now, and coming up on a big birthday and realized that I have no friends like my mom did. I have a best friend, we used to do like my mom and godmother did. Until she moved an hour away. The only reason she comes to where I live and while she works and she works long hours. Our off days do not match up either, but maybe we’ll figure it out. I met another friend about a year or so ago, but our schedules always clash, we may see each once a month if we’re lucky. But what happened to those villages? Where people were there for each other, with no obligations, no expectation of receiving anything back from helping out, just the pleasure of being with someone else , enjoying each other’s company and going through life together. Why has this just seemingly disappeared? Because it wasn’t just my mom and godmother who did this, it seemed like when I was growing up everyone was doing it. It was the thing to do. Perhaps it will come back into style like a lot of the old days styles are coming back. I guess time will tell.
4 people like this
3 responses
@Happy2BeMe (99386)
• Canada
24 Feb
I think we just live in different times. Back then families and friends seemed closer. I dont have any close friends either. It is sad but I think it is just the way things are today. Sorry your families didnt remain close. I can tell from reading your posts that it really hurts you.
2 people like this
24 Feb
For sure live in different times. But it's not that different is it? We're still people and we all still each other. No one can do life on their own.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99386)
• Canada
25 Feb
@Momandwife89 this too true but people just dont value the importance pf family and friend time. They are so involved with social media and being online.
@RebeccasFarm (86981)
• United States
24 Feb
I am sorry this sounds so very sad. I too can understand this very well..the isolation and no get together is brutal.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Feb
@Momandwife89 Yes, as I too remember happier times when I was a kid and people were close.
25 Feb
Facts! It's the isolation that is the worst.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
27 Feb
That sounds like such an amazing friendship your mother and your godmother had. That is so special and something I am sure they both cherished. I have never heard of anything quite like this though so it really was heart warming to read. I am so sorry it didn’t continue into your generation.