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"I'm grilling chicken tonight. Who's in for a block family dinner?"
"We'll be there. I'll bring a salad."
"Yup! We've got ice cream sandwiches for the kids."
This is a typical text exchange in our neighborhood group chat. My husband, our four kids, and I live on a close-knit block where families share kid responsibilities, cook occasional dinners for one another, and help when couples can't find a babysitter.
Most people say it takes a village to raise a family, but every village can look different. For us, our neighbors are our main support — and we wouldn't have it any other way.
A few years ago, one of the moms on our block organized a brilliant rotation for five of us families. Each couple would take turns hosting all the kids for a few hours on Saturday morning. The other couples could use their kid-free time however they wanted: to get chores done, walk to a coffee shop together, or sit and read a book in silence. The following Saturday, a different couple would have the kids.
While having all nine kids at once may seem like an enormous undertaking, the kids played well together most of the time while the hosts kept watch and provided snacks. Not only did it give parents the gift of time on the weekend, but it also helped us get to know each other and each other's kids better. The kids became closer friends, too.
Now, it's common for kids to be at each other's houses.
Someone might text, "we can't find a sitter for Saturday night. Anyone up for taking two extra kids from 5-8:30?" Or "Sam is coming to see if your boys can play. If that's not okay, just send him or all of them here."
The idea is that we're all in this together and that, surprisingly, more kids can ease the load.
When neighbors come to our house, my kids love it and are fully occupied. I can finally prep dinner or sneak in a workout. And if I need someone to watch my kids while I run to an appointment or so I can take a nap while my newborn sleeps, there's usually someone on the block who's happy to take my kids.
On lazy Sunday afternoons when the kids ride bikes on the sidewalk and the parents chitchat on a nearby porch, someone might ask, "What're you doing for dinner?" Most of us respond with a shoulder shrug, wishing we didn't have to go home and figure out what to make.
The convo might lead to a large pizza order for all, brats on the grill in someone's backyard, or a hodgepodge potluck. During the cooler months, someone might whip up a double batch of chili or chicken noodle soup, and text the group: "Who's in?"
Our "street family dinners" don't have to be fancy — although there are some excellent chefs on the block. The shared meals give us a way to gather and reduce the burden of cooking every night for our own families.
The kids usually run off and play after 10 minutes at the table, leaving us parents to kick back and chat over a beer or batch cocktail. Those nights are filled with laughter, stories about raising our families, kid shenanigans, and a beautiful reminder that we aren't alone during these amazing yet arduous years of parenting.
When school is out or our college-aged nanny is gone for the summer, parents on the block chip in to help with gaps in childcare. Between remote workers, part-time workers, and teachers, there are a few parents who rotate watching kids during the summer.
In the afternoons, first-grader Sam might knock on our door, looking for my boys. The three of them will play together for hours, switching between our backyard, the basement, and Sam's house — a favorite spot with mountains of monster trucks and Legos. The downtime gives me a chance to finish an article, send out invoices, or sweep the floors.
Another dad might take an extra kid or two on a beach trip while their parents are at the office. Many times, this is better for everyone: the kids have someone their age to play with, so the adult on duty has less entertaining to do. The informal sharing doesn't cover the full lack of childcare, but it eases the burden.
My neighbor Carolyn often drops off shirts and leggings that no longer fit her daughter and shoes and shorts that her son has outgrown. Katelyn brings my kids puzzles and games, and Jess recently gifted me a car seat.
I'm incredibly grateful for the cost-savings to my family and the time saved from not having to go shopping. But it's especially fun to watch kids on the block cycle through old favorites. The sentimental pieces are worn again, bringing them new life and time in the sun.
Our neighborhood isn't perfect, and sometimes the workload may be uneven, but our neighborhood village supports us and is there for us. Someone always has my back or is looking out for us.
The sharedness of family life makes it lighter, sweeter, and much more enjoyable. Most of all, we're making memories and relationships we'll cherish for the rest of our lives.
