I have some amazing female friends. Some of my best friends include a fashion designer, writer, lawyer-to-be, teacher (OK, many of these…us teachers stick together), and the list goes on. These are the type of women that I want my son to grow up around- strong women!
As I was pregnant, though, I started to realize that in my circle of close friends, I would be the only one with a baby. And after I had the Boy I realized that, as much as I adore my non-mommy friends, I needed to connect with women who were mothers as well. Because there’s something about having another mother to talk to. They have been (or will be) where you are, they know what you are going through, they just get you!
Today, my friends include the same strong women that I mentioned before, but that circle has been widened. The Boy and I now have the amazing benefit of wisdom from other mothers. Some are new moms like me, some are seasoned pros. Some belong to a local mom group that I swear saved my sanity when the Boy was 3 months old. 
Some were friends of my husband that I have claimed as mine (all mine, hear that hubby?? I’ve claimed them as mine!). One or two were even discovered through local online baby groups.
The point is, these women have so quickly become such an essential part of my life and I can’t imagine how I would have made it through the first 6 months of mommy-hood without them. There’s just something important about telling whining to another mother about a night of no sleep and having her nod her head because she actually understands. There’s something so awesome about taking your son to someone else’s house and knowing that there will be toys, snacks, and baby proofing readily available!
I would have never guessed how much I needed mommy friends and how much I would cherish them. Now the Boy will have built-in playmates as he grows older. I will have people to whine talk to when the going gets rough. But best of all, the Boy will have even more amazing role models in his life.
Friendships with women have always been important to me. I have raised my 3 daughters and they now have children themselves and I see how important their friendships are to them. I am fortunate to be considered, not only my daughters’ mom but their friend as well. I work for an au pair agency and have met many young au pairs come to know one another from places all around the world. I’ve seen some very special bonds with young women who will have life long friendships after spending a year in their life as au pairs together. If any of you want some good childcare tips, I would be happy to share my experience with the au pair program. It allows families to have in home and flexible childcare hours a very affordable cost. A good friend is better than any gift you can buy at the store.
It is kind of shocking how non-Mommy friends can dissapear after your child is born, and they are so very important to your sanity in that first year and beyond. The hard part is putting yourself out there and making connections with new people when your self esteem has taken the battering that having a new baby (for the first time or beyond) brings with it. What is even harder is when you don’t nescessarily subscribe to the current “trends” in parenting. Motherhood can be very lonely without that support system, hold on to those wonderful friends and treat them like gold!
you don’t pick your family but you do pick your friends…they are the chosen ones
Friends are so important! The support and free babysitting is my favourite part – plus I love that the little monkey has so many people around who love him.
There is nothing like talking to another mom who has been there, done that or who is going through it at the same time, to make me feel like everything is going to be OK. And I love how mom’s have a bond, even if you’re strangers. You know what I mean, the knowing nods and smiles at the grocery store/toy store/coffee shop…It’s a great club to be part of.
mommy friends who think like you are the best. the ones that don’t …. not so great on the ego. how did moms function without facebook? for real, you’d have to actually CALL people and with one touch dialing, I wouldn’t even know my number to give to people.
mom community is awesome and definitely needed. how else would we know that screaming at bed time is normal, and not a tumor?
My mommy group saved me too, Sarah. And my mom friends continue to be a huge support and lifeline even as my kids get older. Some of us met when our kids were just newbies and they are now some of my best friends.
Yes, I do remember a time when those friends were mine. But like a good husband, I have learned to share because my wife says so. :0