There is nothing that rings more true for a single mom.

I chose to be a single mom. When I wasn’t married at 34 – and there were no prospects on the horizon – I decided I would go ahead and have a kid using a sperm donor. I also knew I would be on my own raising my child and I decided early on that my journey would embrace anyone who wanted to participate.

The Power of We

became a rallying cry for me. I found a care provider for Katie who had worked in early childhood development and taught me ways to parent and guide her (in particular about the RIE method* that has helped me with Katie and so many other children).

was a promise my old college roommate, Sandra, made when she jumped in and helped me when Katie got colicky. She’d walk in to check on my around 6pm every day and I could walk out and get some fresh air and a break. Thirteen years later Sandra is still very involved in Katie’s life providing a welcome respite from a driving mother (me) offering different energy and an fantastic extended family (she’s Creole with six sisters and a zillion relatives).

brought my mom and me together around a common goal as she taught me to master all the operational issues associated with being a mom – from feeding to sleeping to mastering the bath. Over the years I have called her with every kind of problem looking for advice or just a shoulder to lean on.

is just another way of saying “It Takes a Village” and anyone who has raised a child knows you really, truly don’t do it alone. It takes an orchestra of teachers, coaches, friends, family, and so many more that provide guidance, direction, inspiration and correction to both you and your child as they grow.

The Power of Weis what I teach Katie now that she’s old enough to start giving back. It started with her friends and teaching her how to listen and offer support and help. It moved into taking action in the community with Girl Scouts and the Second Harvest Food Bank. And now I am seeing her consider “the greater good” as she thinks through ideas for her science project or thinks about what she might want to do with her life.

In a world where so many want to emphasize individual achievement and rugged individualism, I believe The Power of We is our hope for the future. Not to sound too “Obama” about this, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family, friends and community.