It takes a village.

Although I am not a fan of the woman who coined this phrase - I believe that there is truth in her words.

The bottom line of this statement is - if everyone pitched in with the needs of raising a family - the children of the world would be better off.

Let's just say....We have a woman raising a child. She is alone and her ex-husband is far away and really hasn't been part of the child's life.

The woman's family is also far away. Her only comfort in them is a talk on the phone and an occasional visit.

There are siblings from both sides - hers and her ex husbands. But they are busy doing their own thing. Raising their own families.

Words are spoken from the past - like I really need to be more involved. I need to come and hang out with this kid for a few hours so that they know that they can count on me.

A few attempts are made- but it never lasts. It makes the other person feel good that they tried.

These same people are the first to shake their heads and wonder what happened to that child when something goes wrong. What got into them? What's that parent doing? You need to do this. You need to do that.

I used to cringe at the Cuban families where I grew up. They had everyone living with them.

Mom, Dad, Gramma, Grandpa, kids. I used to think it was because they didn't have any money - that's why people lived 10 to a house. I was wrong.

I am not saying that this is the perfect situation but I now see what a wonderful situation it could be. The Japanese do the same. They care for their parents as they age as their parents did for them while they were growing up.

Most Americans look at it like a freedom is being taken away. My Gramma for example owns her own house - has her own life. Everytime you ask her to sell it - visit with her children or I have even mentioned a small mother in law's quarters type of thing - you are automatically answered with...I don't want to be a burden. I have a life.

But - look a little deeper into it. I know marriages don't last forever. Its a thing of the past. Most people don't have the patience for another. I know I don't.

But I have spoken on family before. Your family is always there.

A perfect situation is that everyone is close to each other. Every relative watches out for each other. Hand in hand they work together.

I grew up a block away from my Gramma. I know that in HB's family his Gramma lived with them until she passed.

In certain neighborhoods - you have everyone within a few blocks of each other. Never to leave because that's where their family is.

Can you see the benefits of everyone giving a hand? Being an extra set of eyes? Sharing parts of their lives and helping to mold and possibly influence the children around them?

I think the village theory is a good one.

Shame it will never be put into practice.