A 70-year-old man, Vuyo Douws, is prompting reflection on traditional, community-based child-rearing practices. Douws contrasts the past, where neighbourhoods collectively participated in raising children, with contemporary society’s increased emphasis on privacy. He suggests this shift away from communal parenting may be affecting child development. His observations highlight a perceived loss of shared responsibility in upbringing. Douws’s perspective encourages consideration of the benefits of broader community involvement in children’s lives. The discussion centers on whether modern privacy concerns outweigh the advantages of a village-like approach to raising families. His reflections offer a nostalgic look at past norms and a critical lens on present-day parenting.