Alloparenting; the deep privilege of loving, and caring for, each other's children.

I’m sharing this because it feels like a resonant and important exploration into the curious and significant act of welcoming each other into our family dynamics, and in doing so enabling more alloparenting to take place.

From wikipedia:

“The word alloparent roughly translates to "other-parent" based on the Greek root "allo", meaning other, and the Latin root "parens", meaning parent.”

For the context of this poem, and more of my personal story surrounding this notion listen to the audio above..

A few shots of various alloparenting experiences and friends over the years.

Alloparenting

The deep privilege

of being allowed in

invited in

assumed in.

Welcomed into

the family unit.

A necessary, useful, and

joyful addition.


Trusted to witness 

the light 

and the shadow;

the difficult bed times

the answering back

the tantrums, tussels

and tears. 


While beholding also

the small steps

and thresholds;

the school run,

a first pet,

an Easter Sunday performance,

the bed-time snuggles

and early morning

cuddles.


Sweet and 

simple moments

of profound

significance.

Of meaning

made

magical

by an intuitive

and natural instinct

That this is

how it

should 

be.

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Please take a moment to engage:

What’s your experience of alloparenting and how can we collectively do more of it?

Has this share bought up any emotions for you? (I remember sharing this poem to a group of similarly aged people to me (around 38) and there was a fair few tearful faces in the room!)

And specifically for parents: how can those of us without our own children, show up as useful and helpful alloparents for you?

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