Wading in together

Henri Manuel

A cruel irony of mid-stage parenting is that--just as we hit these wonderfully and woefully more complicated years--the opportunities to get together with other parents dry up. We tend to get more isolated just when we need others more. What's up with that?!  No more helpful reality checks via playground chats with fellow parents while we watch the kids play. No more playgroup lunches, comparing notes and dishing out equal parts advice and reassurance. Instead, life seems to speed up. While every single stage of parenting is loaded with ups and downs (potty training, anyone? tantrums? sleep schedules?), what makes the tough days tougher during this particular phase is that we can feel so utterly alone in it.

That's why we hatched this little blog--to say "hey, you're not the only one." We really aim to celebrate the wonders and beauties of this stage and, at the same time, we want to acknowledge the ​reality that there are pitfalls--not in a heavy, negative way but in a supportive, I-hear-you one. (This is a no-guilt zone, folks!) 

With that in mind, we've added a new feature* over on the sidebar over there ----> so you can chime in with your own thoughts and concerns. Do you have a question that you'd love to ask other seasoned parents?  A suggestion for a topic to start a discussion here? Send them in and we'll pass them along (anonymously, if you want) via Facebook and on future posts, inviting other nest&launchers to chime in. We definitely don't have all the answers but we really do love mulling over the questions. Pull up a virtual park bench and think of it as our own version of those leisurely playground chats of days gone by. 

*thanks, Andrea, for the suggestion!​