Raising Richmond: So long, friend

As much as it pains us to do so, the time has come for us to say goodbye to the one and only Patience Salgado — at least within context of the ongoing conversation we have on Raising Richmond. Here she offers a few words of farewell as she reflects on her almost-three-year stint as an RVANews columnist.

August 30, 2011; 7:08 AM • by Patience Salgado

Editor’s note: As much as it pains us to do so, the time has come for us to say goodbye to the one and only Patience Salgado — at least within context of the ongoing conversation we have on Raising Richmond. Here she offers a few words of farewell as she reflects on her almost-three-year stint as an RVANews columnist. We hope you’ll take a minute to read it and then check out our list of what we see as Patience’s “Greatest Hits,” if you will — columns in which she did that voodoo that she does particularly well. Oh, and don’t worry: Raising Richmond isn’t going anywhere, we’re just tweaking the format a bit. Stay tuned!

“I think I may have found a babysitter!” Jorge said excitedly. “I met her on the Internet,” he continued as I decided my dear husband may have very well lost his mind.

“No, no, I’m telling you, this girl is really nice! She even offered!” I wondered if the babysitter desperation had set in so deep that anything was on the table at this point. We were young parents of three living in a two bedroom apartment in the Museum District. With no family in town and a tight budget, we were livin’ on love, city joy, and the Internets apparently — but never a babysitter.

He sent me link to her blog, Made in Richmond, and well, it turned out to be the one and only Valerie Catrow. She was funny, genuine, opinionated sometimes, yet also tender and kind. I instantly liked her and felt as if she were an old friend. Crazier still, I would have actually LEFT MY CHILDREN WITH HER, without a second thought. The funny thing is, Valerie has never once watched my children. We were too busy exchanging emails, seeing each other at a handful of gatherings, becoming friends, and bonding over many a late article I had yet to turn in for Raising Richmond.

When we started Raising Richmond over two years ago — which is forever in Internetland — I knew our experiences may be different but I didn’t realize how much we would have in common. I didn’t know that moms, dads, grandparents, even lovely single people not even thinking of having kids would read our humble little column. I didn’t know how much I had to reflect upon or realized all those parenting stories added up to something beautiful, especially because I still rarely know what I am doing. It was so nice to have other RVAers along the way, sharing their own doubts and parenting triumphs.

It seems as if my path is taking another turn. I find my head, various napkins, and backs of old junk mail envelopes are filling with kindness ideas like never before. My parenting, family life, and heart are in a new place where I can pursue and develop my kindness work in a deeper way. I am so excited and yet so sad that I will not share this space with you all anymore. Thank you for all your kindness and support over the years. I will always be grateful for this time I had with you all and Valerie.

Patience Salgado lives in a state of dreamy chaos with her husband Jorge and their four kids in the Westover Hills neighborhood. She slings a baby while she tries to think up her next guerrilla goodness project.

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Patience’s Greatest Hits

• The crib or the family bed?
• Ooooh, what about…
• The Great School Debate
• Parenting and happiness
• At home or the hospital?
• Talking about tragedy

August 30, 2011 7:08 AM 6