Support Network

A little over nine years ago I moved from Florida to Connecticut -- away from my family and friends, to get a fresh start on my life. I had originally planned on moving back -- but after meeting my husband, who lived in New Jersey, I found myself staying up north.

Over the years it has been difficult living so far away from Florida -- but never as hard as when I became pregnant and gave birth to my son Zack. Without that support network of aunts, uncles and grandparents to help raise my child, makes life that much more challenging; especially the first few weeks after having a c-section when I could have really used the help!!

I watch other moms in my community that have their mothers, sisters, and brothers to help take their kids for a respit, to get things done around the house, to go away overnight, and who babysit on a regular basis. I feelt hat I am missing out on so much by not having my family close by. And even though my husband has lived in New Jersey for most of his adult life, his mother, grandparents and uncle all live in Florida as well.

There have been so man times over the last 20 months when I would have given anything to have my sister close by to help with Zack -- or my mom to come by and pick him up for an afternoon, or even to take him overnight, to give me a breather and have a few hours to myself. The times that Jeff, Zack and I have gone down to Florida to visit -- my family has babysat and given us a chance to go out to dinner alone, and have some quality time together.

Having that alone time is so important in a relationship and it helps when you don't have to pay a babysitter, on top of the cost of dinner or a date night!

So I recommend highly to anyone starting a family, try to live close to your family, because having a support network in place is so important!! As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child -- in today's world -- it takes a support network to raise a child!