“Moms need to help other moms.”
That’s what the elderly woman sitting beside me and her husband at Costco said, as we shared a quick lunch. Her words stopped me for a moment—and they’ve stayed with me. She was right. We can’t do this thing—mothering—alone. We need each other. We need support, understanding, and the reassurance that we’re doing our best, even when we don’t have all the answers.

Late last month, I took our son to Costco for a hotdog lunch. He was all smiles—delighting in his hotdog and soaking in the attention from this kind woman, who happened to be a grandmother herself. She shared stories of her own children and grandchildren, recalling just how challenging those early years were. She and her husband had raised three boys and helped with all of their grandkids. Her presence felt like a warm, gentle pause in my busy day.

Without hesitation, she helped me—grabbing extra napkins, getting more lemonade (diluted with water for my little guy), and cleaning up the ketchup mess that had spread across the table. She even threw away our trash. And then she looked at me with kindness and said,
“Moms need to help other moms.”

“Moms need to help other moms.”

I smiled and thanked her, touched by her thoughtfulness. And I found myself wondering: Are all moms like this?

Some are. I strive to be one of them. If nothing else, I try to be a listening ear—perhaps offering a bit of advice, if it’s welcomed—but always showing up with kindness and respect for this sacred, complex role we call “Mom.”

Just this past week, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law came to visit. They’re both parents, and once again, I found myself on the receiving end of quiet, intentional support. Whether it was helping with bath time, washing dishes, entertaining our son, or simply offering adult conversation, they both stepped in with grace. They didn’t wait for me to ask—they just noticed what was needed and offered help freely.

What struck me most was how natural it felt. No big gestures. Just family showing up—one set of parents lending their strength to another. It reminded me that the support we give doesn’t have to be loud or perfect—it just needs to be present.

Growing up, I didn’t see my mom surrounded by a lot of other mom friends. She and my dad relied on babysitters, school programs, and occasionally, help from extended family—relatives from Europe who would stay with us and care for me and my sister. Looking back, their support was a gift, and part of the “village” that helped raise us.

It reminds me that support comes in many forms. Whether it’s a grandmother at Costco, a sister-in-law in your guest room, a brother-in-law offering to play with your child, or an aunt or cousin from across the ocean, the heart of it is the same:
We were never meant to do this alone.

Parenting is extraordinarily difficult to do in isolation. It really does take a village. And sometimes, that village begins with one small act of kindness and a simple, powerful reminder:
Moms need to help other moms.

**Featured image above of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law with our son. A quiet moment from their recent visit. Support often looks just like this.**