I am most grateful for my tribe of mom friends.
I am most grateful for my tribe of mom friends. These women of the “It takes a village” live and breathe the mantra down to their very cells. Mom friends know what it’s like. They have mommy instincts and a radar for helping other moms get to the finish line. They intuitively know the right help to offer when it is most needed.
Yes, I’m talking about you, neighborhood bestie. Who puts my children on the school bus. Who picks them up from daycare when I can’t make it on time because of work. Who has my daughter practically living at her house for play dates that sometimes extend into the night. And who does a thousand little things without hesitation, simply because she is my friend.
And you, my other neighborhood bestie who has my son over more times than I can count. Who has saved me time and time again from my over-scheduling nightmares or when I’ve needed an egg or two for pancakes.
Then there are the mom friends who text lost homework pages late at night. The cheerleading moms who offer to carpool nearly every week to practice and help my child with high-teased ponytails when I’ve failed miserably. The soccer moms, birthday party moms, music school moms, and yes, even the dance moms.
All of these mom friends are part of that selflessly incredible tribe that looks out for one another because they do understand.
Beneath the veneer of every mom who looks like she has it all together (balancing work, family life, community obligations, and elderly parent-care) is a stressed-out HUMAN who sometimes breaks down in tears, has screaming fits, and engages in the occasional temper tantrum that rivals the most ballistic two-year-old.
Let’s be honest: MOM LIFE IS HARD, and sometimes it is seriously no fun. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, and I can’t be the only person who wants to run away from it all and then feels so guilty about it.
But the mom tribe gets it because they know how hard it can be. There’s no hesitation in the offer to help and the extra hand to get there. I’ve learned to accept help because mom friends never make me feel bad about it.
My kids also learn through us that the world is a communal place, and the strength that makes us thrive as a species is tied to our togetherness. We wouldn’t have survived if every cave mom had stuck to her own piece of rock and never bothered to pop her head into the next cave to see what was up.
My life may be organized chaos, but I get it all done. Then I breathed a sigh of relief because I took the help when I needed it, and I willingly gave it back when it was my turn to provide support. I’m so thankful we have each other, my dearest mom friends.
