Member-only story
My Mother-in-Law Smoked and Drank While She Played Cards With The Other Moms In the Neighborhood
My mother-in-law smoked and drank while she played cards with the other moms in the neighborhood.
The women wandered in and out of each other’s kitchens, and the kids wandered in and out of each other’s backyards. Their lives overlapped, and the neighbors knew each other well because they weren’t just neighbors; they were friends, confidants, babysitters, carpool sharers, and more.
Sure, it was a different time, and having a local network like that seems like a dream. How many failed attempts, group texts, and months out does it take to schedule a play date in your neighborhood?
But it wasn’t all rainbows and cupcakes. My MIL didn’t drive, have a bank account, or a career. That was up to her husband. And it was pretty normal back then. You were either a stay-at-home mom or worked outside the home and didn’t have kids.
You didn’t change your mind; you made the best of it.
There wasn’t work-from-home or remote flexibility or internet-based business or hybrid offices.
We’ve come so far, yet it can feel like we have miles to go if you’re trying to do both successfully.
It would help to have a role model, a community who gets it, and like-minded women to share stories, swap secrets, and be there for you, personally and professionally.
If the idea of having a village appeals to you, reply with “village,” and I’ll send you a special link!
