There’s a quiet reckoning that many new parents face. After the haze of newborn days fades, you might find yourself wondering, “Wasn’t I supposed to have a village?” This post explores the gap between our expectations of community and the reality of isolation, the loss of early support, and the deeper, ongoing transformation of matrescence. It’s a gentle invitation to acknowledge the grief, anger, and loneliness, and to imagine how connection can begin again, even if it looks different than what we pictured.