What Are You Talking About?

I was fortunate to be able to stay home with my first son after he was born.  I was so happy to be able to spend every hour of every day with him.  He was my life; my own life went out the window.  All my friends pre-baby were still working, so I was pretty much on my own with my baby, never having adult conversation until my husband got home from work.  

When I did get a chance to talk to my friends, my conversations were primarily about poop, sleep, and baby toys.  I found that my friends and I, some of whom I have known since grade school, had little in common now!  They were full into their careers, traveling, and going to fancy restaurants on the weekends.  I was lucky to get a shower and eat one full meal each day.    

I was at the library one day (my son was about six months old) for the baby story time program we went to each week.  There, I met a mom who was meeting other moms there.  She told me that she was in a Mommy Group where they meet up for playdates and other gatherings with their little ones.  I was intrigued.  I always hoped that my friends and I would start our families around the same time, but this was not the case.  I yearned for a connection to other moms of young children that were experiencing the same thing as I. 

When I got home, I searched for a Mommy Group, and found one!  This group of amazing women have been the steadfast support that I needed.  I have been in my Mommy’s Group for five years now.  As I sit and think about all we have been through and what we’ve talked about over the last five years, it makes me chuckle.  We’ve dealt with playgrounds, vomit, milestones, vacations, pregnancies, grandparents, community service, depression, new babies, emergency room visits,  diarrhea, politics, dancing, night-wakenings,  discipline, charity events, toys, diet, internet, birthday parties,  illnesses, husbands, relationships, accomplishments, preschools, restaurants, music, mom’s nights out, religion, jobs, laundry, family, breastfeeding, work, house cleaning, meals, babysitters, education, garage sales, and mothering.  Granted, you can talk to many people about many of these topics, but us mommies have talked about and dealt with ALL of them!

I was at a dear friend’s daughter’s 1^st birthday party this weekend, after a long and busy week with my kids and work.  It was nice to be around friends – my “mommy friends.”

While at the 1^st birthday party at my friend’s home, my girlfriend mentioned a bocce set (Franklin) that she and her family enjoy playing on the beach.  As I sat there holding a sippy cup (as if I were drinking from it) full of milk for my one-year-old, I said “you mean Franklin, the turtle,” thinking this was exactly what they were talking about.  Everyone burst out laughing, and informed me that Franklin was a sporting brand, and not just a turtle.  Although a bit embarrassed, I knew that everyone there understood what I was talking about, and how my brain was in mommy-mode.  My friend, seeing that I needed some adult conversation, quickly invited me (and my kids) over to her house a few days later (let’s be serious, playdates are more for the Mommies than the children)!  I quickly accepted.

These are my “Mommy friends”!  Without these amazing women in my life, I don’t know how I would be now, having three children under the age of five! 

I cannot stress enough how important support is, whether it is your first or tenth child.  To have someone that can relate and understand what you are going through each and every day is priceless. 

Sincerely,

From the Stork’s Nest~

Rebecca