• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Sum Girls Boutique
  • “SUM” Services
  • Subscribe
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • youtube
    • snapchat

Dim Sum and Doughnuts

A little SUMthing about growing up, making mistakes and happy endings.

It Really Does Take A Village

June 8, 2016

When I moved away for college, I didn’t think I was coming back. I loved Michigan; I just always assumed I’d end up somewhere else. I lived in Columbus, Ohio for several years after college, but when my best girlfriend accepted a job offer in the Detroit area, I figured it was a sign.

So I went with her, and came home (ish).

I love the suburb where I grew up, but it’s a “family” suburb and I wasn’t married and I had no kids. Plus, I already lived there for 18 years and I wanted something different. I wanted to be near a downtown area with restaurants, retail stores and fun streets where I could walk my dog, Barney.

Barney-Water Bottle

Barney and I bounced around metro Detroit for 5 years before finally settling down in a super cute house in The Village of Beverly Hills. According to the United States Census Bureau, the population of Beverly Hills is approximately 10,450. The total area is 4.02 square miles (and of those square miles, .02 is water, the main branch of the Rouge River).

I loved it. Plus, I was close to my friends and just minutes away from retail and restaurants. It was exactly where Barney and I needed to be.

I think I always knew if I ended up in Michigan, I’d end up in Beverly Hills. My dad moved there when I was in high school, after my parents divorced, and I stayed with him quite a bit. It only took me 20 minutes to get to his house, but everything was different. The Village had a totally different feel. Everything was a little slower, a little quieter, and a little more low key—and it was the same when I came back as an adult.

When I got married, my husband and I moved with our two dogs out of “my super cute house” and upgraded to “our house.” But we stayed in Beverly Hills.

At the time, we didn’t have kids and we didn’t have friends living in Beverly, but we didn’t care. We’re not far from anyone we love, and after living at an overnight camp for kids all summer—kids everywhere, all the time— it’s nice to have a little privacy.

The houses in Beverly are old, or new, but all different. The streets are quiet and lined with big trees. The people wave, whether they know you or not, and the police officers are top notch. Whether someone is speeding in the hood or walking around a school yard with a gun, (for real, that happened here) they shut sh*t down FAST. I have been in trouble with the BHPD a few times (not my fault) but they protect, and they serve—and I’m just saying, if they were to come out with a calendar each year, I’d buy it.

My kids, at this time, are well adjusted and happy. I sometimes wonder if they would have the same disposition if we lived somewhere else.

My younger one, she goes to sleep happy and wakes up happy. I want her life. She’s rainbows and unicorns, and even though she has questioned why she’s one of the only Jewish kids at her school, she’s never once complained about it. If we lived somewhere else, would she still be chasing rainbows? Would she still be “JJ,” or would she be JJ, The Jewish Kid?

 

JJ Village

 

And my older one, she has made her own name for herself amongst her peers —and she comes to the table with plenty to work with: Jewish, adopted AND Chinese. BOOM. Trifecta, yo. But in our community, she’s not defined by any of those things. They’re just part of who she is.

 

frankie Village

 

When my kids started elementary school, at Beverly Elementary, I wanted no part of the parents. I suck THAT much. I thought I had enough friends, and I didn’t feel like meeting anyone new. But of course, I did. I tried to fight it, but I’m drawn to good people— and through my kids, I have met some of the best.

The elementary school years are a rite of passage for both kids and parents. I can’t imagine going through this time alone. Who was I to even think I could? The early years come off all fun and perky, but it’s all pretty intense. I don’t know what the hell is going on half the time. The friends and neighbors I have met in our Village though—they know stuff, and they share. It’s a small community, but one that is built on well-intentioned people and lots of support.

And it’s not just them, it’s the teachers too! Teachers today work harder than ever. I would never want to be a teacher today: Parents emailing all the time with lame excuses about Bruce Springsteen’s concert being the reason for forgotten homework, annoying, repetitive questions sucking up all their teaching time. No thanks.

If I was a teacher today, I’d have an OUT OF OFFICE reply that said “Hi! Sorry I’m not getting back to you EVER because I’m TRYING TO TEACH. And if it’s after hours, you can FOR SURE forget it because I’m getting ready for tomorrow. Hope you get a better teacher next year!”

But the teachers at our school are not like that. They deal. They deal with the kids, the parents, the politics, all of it.

Our goal as parents is to raise our kids into confident, productive adults, but we’re not doing it alone. Community plays a huge part so it’s something to think about when it comes time to choose the “family house.” Just remember, the home isn’t the only place your child is raised, he’s raised by everyone around it as well: Parents, Neighbors, Teachers, Police Officers…And if you end up choosing the Village of Beverly Hills in Michigan—best of luck to your kid, because that’s where we are too!

Family village

Thanks for being here!

Related posts:

6 Tips For Running Errands With Kids
Big Dogs and High Horses
#Facebookforever
Know Your Worth

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Adoption, Friendship, Parenthood & Parenting Tips Tagged With: Adopted kids, Beverly Elementary Michigan, Beverly Hills Police Department, chinese adoption, Community support, Find your family home, Good friends, Good neighbors, It takes a village, It takes a village to raise a child, teacher life

Primary Sidebar

heading-about Dim Sum and Doughnuts
heading-subscribe

heading-categories
  • Parenthood & Parenting Tips
  • Camp Life
  • Adoption
  • Rants
  • Marriage & Family
  • Friendship
  • You’re Not Alone
  • Mailbag Monday!
  • Sum Of This, Sum Of That
  • 20 SUMthings
  • Dogs Rule
  • Relationships
  • Guest Post

heading-instagram

Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on earth I’d “want to open a brick and mortar when everyone just shops online...?” 
⭐️
But you know what? SUM people like to shop in real life. They like to touch and try on. They like to be surrounded by good vibes and build memories you can’t make online. It’s good to get out, check out, and log off for a bit. 
⭐️
I’m not saying “Don’t shop online” (I do too!) I’m just saying it’s also nice to add in another element. Small businesses are SUPER COOL and special — and I promise you, if they’re in business right now, it’s because they’re working super hard to keep their doors open. I have also been putting in the work, and I am feeling so grateful for the stellar group of customers, businesses and friends that support us and all we are trying to do. 
⭐️
Thank you @feministmomming for doing a spotlight on @dimsumanddoughnuts and @sumgirlsboutique and for reminding me how special my family, our brand, and our support system are to us. We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives and on our ride. 🙏 #SupportLocal #ShopSmall and Come Get SUM soon! 💜 #SumGirlsBoutique 
_______________________________
👗👚👖 Trendy, Sustainable Fashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens * Teens * Ladies in #BerkleyMi
Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan809 @debfuger @lmk126 @dianna.feldman 💜 Trying hard every day to build our brand so women and girls have a place to feel good about themselves and have SUM fun! So lucky to be surrounded by so many strong, amazing women who support me no matter what I do. 🙏💜 @sumgirlsboutique @dimsumanddoughnuts #womensupportingwomen
On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came true ⭐️ •
•••••
Instead of having her Bat Mitzvah service in the Rabbi’s Study, family only (which was still more people than she wanted) she got to have it at home with just us! 🎉 •
•••••
Frankie will forever be the first person EVER from the congregation of #TempleBethEl to be Bat Mitzvah’d via #ZOOM in the comfort of her own home! Dress Code: #QuarantineCasual.👌🏻 •
•••••
It was the most incredible experience for our family, including #BrunoMarshall 🐾, and we couldn’t be prouder of our amazing daughter. ❤️🙏 •
•••••
#DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#GrowingUp 
#QuarantineBatMitzvah #wehadatorahinourhouse
In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the crap it has thrown at our family (and so many others), it’s still #GotchaDay and it needs to be celebrated! 🎉 12 years this diva has been with us and we love her more every day. ❤️ 🥘 🍩 @DimSumAndDoughnuts • @sumgirlsboutique #daughterlove #daughterlife #adoptionday
#NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are ad #NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are adopted or have an adopted kid, take 20% OFF any one regularly priced item @sumgirlsboutique on Sat, Nov 23 cuz #adoptionrocks! 🎸 ❤️ •
•
#SumGirlsBoutique • Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #downtownberkley
#internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the #internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the empowerment of young girls everywhere-but we try to do that everyday @sumgirlsboutique! 💜⭐️ 💪🏻 Come see us and Come Get SUM sooooon! •
•
Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #DowntownBerkley💜@dimsumanddoughnuts
Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it was too late, but I did write a blog post for those divas and it took me a YEAR and I hope they appreciate it one day! 😜😜 #DontBeStupid #mothersanddaughters #growingup  #DimSumAndDoughnuts #sumgirlsboutique •
•
Blog Post link in bio (It’s a gooooood one!)
Photo Cred @mikemoy
Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 #BrunoMarshall #BlackLabs #LoveForDogs
One night only! We were all together, and now they One night only! We were all together, and now they’re all gone... 😢Cody and #BrunoMarshall came to get the divas, and now they’re #camptanuga bound! Bring on the magic • 2019 ❤️🌈⛺️#tanugamagic #tanuga #campwifelife
These two came home from NYC with two new loves: # These two came home from NYC with two new loves: #governorsisland and #pokernight - and the most love for their Uncle D 💛 @dstortion #BKgirls #DimSumAndDoughnuts / @sumgirlsboutique
#BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and c #BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and closets forever. ❤️ #DimSumAndDoughnuts #gonebutneverforgotten #henribendel #bendelgirlsforlife #bendelgirls | @henribendel @dimsumanddoughnuts
@dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sum @dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sumgirlsboutique 💕 @mphmarketingsolutions #DowntownBerkley
So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story and that we are teamed up with the #DrewTransitionCenter in #Detroit! ❤️#SumGirlsBoutique #DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#EmpowerPotential #Confidence #Support #Smiles / @dimsumanddoughnuts
#NationalAdoptionDay 💜 #NationalAdoptionDay 💜
#HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻 #HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻
Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldau Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldaughtersday but these divas are getting a whole blog written for them one day so I don’t feel that guilty! @dimsumanddoughnuts #daughters #sisters #momlife #momblog #dimsumanddoughnuts
Follow on Instagram

heading-find-us-on-facebook
heading-recent-posts

Mona

June 30, 2020

The Eyedeegafs

April 16, 2020

Don’t Be Stupid, Part 2

August 8, 2019

Don’t Be Stupid

August 15, 2018

links

  • Adoptimist.com
heading-connect
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Snapchat
headeing-advertise
MPH Marketing Solutions In Berkley, MI
funky-frog-boutique
camp-tanuge
pronto
Kay_Bratt
 

Copyright © 2021 Dim Sum and Doughnuts

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.