It Takes a Village - Aseret Loveland

Finding reliable child care in the Illinois Valley feels like an impossible task for working parents—and it shouldn’t have to be. When our second son was born, fear and frustration set in: how would we manage without dependable care? I remember frantically coming up with different scenarios, trying to piece together a plan so that someone could watch him.

I spent hours dialing home-care providers, only to be told they were booked solid, with waiting lists stretching a year into the future. I was exhausted—not just physically, but mentally. It reached a point where I was ready to give up, stay home, and figure out something myself. Then, a bit of luck: a trusted former caregiver called back and said she could take him in. That phone call lifted a weight off our family’s shoulders.

We’re still juggling care on some off days, trying to coordinate and adjust, but we’re doing it together. That’s what a village means. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by people who show up: two wonderful mothers‑in‑law, my sister, and friends whose generosity keeps our family going.

With their help, the chaos becomes manageable. The guilt of missed work meetings softens. The panic about unanswered phones and impossible waitlists eases. Because I have a village, and it matters.

I believe we need to offer families more resources early on, as they begin building their lives with children, so they know child care will be available if they need to return to work, and they’re aware of the support networks that exist to walk alongside them in parenting.

This chapter of life is incredibly vulnerable. What makes all the difference is connection. Knowing you’re not alone, finding others who are learning and struggling just like you, those shared experiences build bonds that last, and they make the challenges feel lighter.

No one should have to face early parenthood in isolation.