So when I envisioned my ideal parenting environment, I envisioned frequent bbqing with friends who had similarly aged children. But that never took shape and now that I am older, it’s more difficult to integrate into that environment.

​

See, back home where a lot of my family is centralized, we would always have bbqs or cookouts or sometimes it was just chips and salsa. But it provided a welcoming environment for bonding. I grew up with many people around me including aunts, uncles, cousins, friends of family, and many others. It was a great feeling. And I would like to recreate that environment for my kids because I feel it created a great sense of community and support  in my life.

​

How about you? Have you found success in these types of friendships – friends who have similar aged children? And how did you build those relationships? Through family? Or childhood friends? How has it influenced your life and family? And what would you recommend to others?

And if you’re still young which one of the environments would you prefer? And how do you plan on going about it?

​

​