The Village
Once upon a time, parents were supported by a village – mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbours – sharing wisdom passed down through lived experience. Village wisdom for families was shared face to face, through conversation, observation, and care.
Today, many families no longer live close to extended family or community. People move countries, work long hours, raise children in isolation, or navigate parenting without the quiet reassurance of those who have gone before them. The village still matters – but for many, it no longer exists in everyday life.
The Village on My Tips Offs is a place to gather those small, practical tips and lessons that don’t belong in textbooks or on social media, but make everyday family life easier.
Tips shared here are based on personal experience, not medical or professional advice. They are contributed by parents, carers, and grandparents, and are reviewed before being published.
What This Is:
A quiet space for parents, carers, and grandparents to share short, practical wisdom, learned through real life. These are the small things people often learn the hard way and wish someone had told them sooner.
What this Is Not:
This is not a discussion forum, a comment section, or a place for debate, selling, or professional advice. The Village exists to share lived experience, not to argue or promote.
Village Wisdom:
Enjoy reading these cards. Read them slowly. Each one holds a little wisdom to guide, reassure, and inspire you on your family journey. May you find something here that comforts, encourages, or teaches you – a small insight from someone who’s been there.
Trust grows with experience. If you feel unsure now, it doesn’t mean you always will — it means you’re learning.
– Jolene, mother of four
A calm home isn’t built by doing everything. It’s built by doing a few things consistently. Simple rhythms matter more than perfect systems.
– Jolene, mother of four
Newborns don’t follow schedules — and that’s normal. Sometimes the most helpful thing is to stop watching the clock and start watching the baby.
– Jolene, mother of four
If breastfeeding feels difficult at first, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. Often it takes time, rest, and gentle support before it starts to feel natural.
– Jolene, mother of four
If you feel overwhelmed in the early days, try lowering expectations rather than pushing through. Feeding yourself and resting, matters more than keeping the house perfect.
– Jolene, mother of four
Every child is different, even within the same family. What worked beautifully for one may not work at all for another — and that’s okay.
– Jolene, mother of four
Learning doesn’t have to look like school to count. Curiosity, conversation, and everyday life teach more than worksheets every could.
– Jolene, mother of four
If parenting feels harder than you expected, it doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means the work is real, unseen, and demanding.
– Jolene, mother of four
Some of this wisdom has grown from real experiences shared in our family life and early parenting reflections.
If you have a small piece of lived wisdom you wish someone had shared with you sooner, you’re welcome to contribute.
Submissions can be anonymous or credited however you feel comfortable.
You can share your Village Wisdom using the form below.
This space will grow slowly. Each piece of wisdom is added with care, reviewed before publishing, and shared in good faith. The aim is not to overwhelm, but to offer quiet reassurance – one small insight at a time.
Views: 0
