Commusings: Rebuilding the Village with Jake Laub

Isolation

The challenges of parenting in isolation are profound, as Jake Laub explains. He highlights how the single-family home model has created an evolutionary mismatch, isolating parents and children from community support 1. In the past, villages provided a natural blend of physical proximity, consistency, and culture, fostering unplanned socialization and a gift economy. This communal living allowed for shared responsibilities, such as childcare and emotional support, which are now outsourced to paid professionals.

A village naturally combined all three. You walked almost everywhere and for the most part saw the same people all the time.

--- Jake Laub

This shift has made parenting a constant, exhausting task rather than an integrated part of daily life 1.

   

Community

Community-centric parenting offers a solution to the isolation of modern family life. Jake Laub shares insights from a cohousing community in Ithaca, New York, where shared responsibilities and communal living enhance parenting experiences 2. In such settings, parents can rely on a network of adults to help care for children, providing much-needed breaks and diverse role models for kids. This approach not only alleviates parental stress but also enriches children's social interactions and development.

Often when it feels hard, it's because you are seeking a solution in the wrong context.

--- Jake Laub

Laub and his wife are actively working to recreate this village model by building a cohousing community near Seattle, aiming to foster a supportive environment for families 2.