How to Thrive in Motherhood with a Small Village

10 Tips for Working Moms

As a mom who does not have family in my immediate area, it’s challenging for me to juggle my competing responsibilities at times.  My village is small yet mighty and I’m thankful for those who step in to assist my husband and me.  I will admit that sometimes I wish my parents lived closer so that I could receive more consistent support during busy weeks.  I’ve learned to navigate having a small village and locationally distant support.  Although there is still much more for me to learn, in today’s post, I’m sharing 10 ways to thrive and not just survive as a busy working mom without a strong support systems. 

10 Ways to Thrive

• Leverage academic resources offered through the school system.

• Research after-school activities that provide transportation.

• Time intentionality is key.

• Leverage “mothers’ helper” services.

• Hire a cleaning service.

• Use meal prep and affordable meal delivery services.

• Engage with employee resource groups for resources and support.

• Lean into church groups and local networks.

• Rely on who you have.

• Focus on wellness and self-care by maximizing simple moments each day.

Parenting without a Strong Support System

I’ve found that parenting without extended support is a bit more common than I initially anticipated.  Reading stories about families who relocate for work and personal pursuits helped me to understand the vast circumstances that families encounter. 

In many circumstances, I feel it’s important to rely on local programs that support working families and whoever comes aboard to join your mom tribe.  As I stated at the start of this post, my tribe is small yet mighty.  For me, it’s not a situation of no support but limiting support.  For moms who feel like they have no one, I encourage them to think outside of the box because I’m certain there’s some level of support, be it limited.  

My husband and I both work extremely hard.  He too is a professional and entrepreneur.  We lean on each other to navigate life.  I’ve found that scheduling together helps to minimize overlaps and ensures we have a smooth flow in our home and with our time. Being on one accord helps my husband and me to thrive. 

Thriving Motherhood Mindset over Surviving Mindset

Mindset is key when your village is small.  I focus on gratitude and show love and appreciation toward who I have in my network and personal ecosystem.  My parents live three hours away but when they come to visit or when I go home, I look forward to spending time with them and having some time to myself.  This gives me something to look forward to, therefore, contributing to a thriving mindset.

Although I have moments when mommy survival mode is inevitable, they are limited.  I make the choice to focus on thriving.  Yes, there are challenging days, but I prefer not to dwell on those.  It is my goal to become better each day and to learn lessons along the way.

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