Mom Friends

I walked into the room. The room full of women who were once my single, engaged, or newlywed friends. The room full of women who could once boogie down until the sun came up, but who can't anymore. The room full of amazing women who, either before or after me, have felt the excitement of two pink lines, the fun and pain of pregnancy, and the joy of welcoming a new member to their herd. The room full of women who were once my girl friends and are now my Mom Friends. We were all the same women, but somehow changed, grown, and looking at the world through very different glasses.

That time when some of us were preggy, some had babes, and some had fur babes!

It's funny how I never felt like an adult until I had a baby. I had two degrees, two fur children, a career, and a husband - but I still felt like a kid. I felt like I should still be going to football games on Friday nights and scoring rides home from school. It wasn't until we brought Lucy home from the hospital that I really felt like a grown up. I think its because that was the first time I realized that I am responsible for caring for and nurturing this tiny human. That responsibility weighed a lot and I needed support - especially since I had no idea what I was doing - and let's be honest, some days I still don't.

J is the best husband and father I could have ever imagined and he was my rock during those first days. But he had never felt the emotion and exhaustion of carrying a babe for nine months and then trying to heal from a c-section while keeping that babe alive. The support I needed could only come from those who've felt it, who've done it, and who've rocked it! I could not have made it through those first days, weeks, months without the love and support of my Mom Friends.

In the past seven months, I have asked these women some of the most scandalous questions and without batting an eye they not only answered them, but elaborated. We've had many an R rated conversation and many more G rated conversations. We have had conversations that no one, who hasn't had a child, could ever care about.

"What do I do with this kid between naps and feeding? What the heck do you do with HR all day?"

"What was it like when your water broke?"

"Lucy started rolling over but then she stopped completely, did HF go through this phase?"

"We're kind of army crawling, but I'm not sure what exercises to do with her - how did you teach MA to crawl?"

"When did OS start sleeping through the night?"

"How were the pups with LP when you brought her home?"

"Breastfeeding is not working for us. How did you stop with BD?"

"You're sure you don't want to keep EP's size 1 sandals? We'll gladly take them!"

These stunning women, we are all very different, we have different histories, difference experiences, and different parenting philosophies. But we all share one of the most important and special jobs -  we're mamas and that means we're closer in spirit and in heart than I ever could have dreamed.

Whoever said, "It takes a village..." had the right idea... though it may not take a village to raise a child - it definitely takes a village to keep mom sane. These women are there for me, from right across the street to hundreds of miles away. They are ready and willing to lend a hand or split a bottle of vino when I need it.

Over the next few months a number of my closest girl friends will become my Mom Friends and I can't wait to welcome them into this most special club. This club that I was extremely nervous to join, but now couldn't be happier to be a part. This club where I never feel judged, only encouraged. This club where I can share not only my failures, but my successes - and more importantly, Lucy's successes.

To these women, the women who've hugged me when I've had a tough mom day, who truly understand the definition of a mom fail, who've held my hand through a rough phase, who've cheered me on, who've given me advice and asked for mine in return - thank you.