Sarah Miller, mother of three, recently inquired about where to get support in raising her children.
“I was really just looking for some support without judgment. I was hoping to find people who could understand that I make mistakes and don’t have all the answers all the time. I heard from some friends about a village somewhere, so I needed to find out how to get there.”
Miller reported that friends had told her the village was a place where individuals showed consideration for mothers and their children and showed emotional support and assistance.
After being unable to find a website or address for the village on Google, Miller used the Siri application on her iPhone to ask for directions.
According to Miller, she was given an unclear response.
“First, she said, ‘I can’t answer that.’ And then she showed me an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but I’m not sure that’s the same village my friends were talking about.”
Google Maps and Mapquest were no help either, according to Miller. “They just kept telling me ‘location not found.’”
We tried to assist Miller in her search by contacting a local technology expert.
“More than likely it’s a place that has become obsolete,” Carrie Duffman, owner of Internet Judgment Technologies, stated.
“Most resources for mothers on the internet nowadays just can’t offer the services this mom is looking for, and really, if you can’t find something on the internet these days, then it just doesn’t exist.”
Miller is hopeful she will find the village in the future.
“I know I’ve seen ads for it before. It’s always a picture of people holding hands or stick figures in a circle. I know it’s out there and I have to find it; it sounds like such a wonderful place.”
As Miller left the coffee shop where we met for our interview, an older woman got up from her table to hold the door for her as she left with her double stroller. Miller turned around to thank the woman and gave us one last thought.
“I guess it’s one of the only things you can’t find on the internet,” she said. “So I’ll just keep my eye out for now. It’s got to be out there somewhere.”
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About the Author
Rachel is a mom, therapist, and maternal mental health advocate. She is also the co-founder of Mentoring 4 Moms. She blogs about emotional wellness for moms at Full Motherhood. Follow Rachel on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.