There are few things that make life as pleasant as the company of a good friend.
You're right. It's obvious. But sometimes it's the obvious things that are easy to over look and take for granted. Like good friends.
Just this evening we took a few hours to go visit with some friends for their daughter's 2nd birthday. It was hot and kids were everywhere. Under different circumstances the whole scenario would have been a nightmare. But with good friends, the whole thing is the best part of life.
Less than glamorous moments suddenly become laughable instead of embarrassing. The argument you had with your spouse before the party is made light of and swept away. The fact that one of the kids was up every hour on the hour last night is sympathized with. And you can swap stories about who hit who, or how potty training is going, or how badly you need a night out.
I think the best thing mom's can do (and dad's too) is to make time for friends. Find people who you love and who love you and just be together. Too often we find ourselves stuck in a rut, trapped in our bubble, and sulking in our own mess. Life is messy, but friends help us to feel more put together. Even being with other parents a few times a month creates room to laugh and breath, share struggles and experiences, and care for one another. It's called community.
There's nothing complicated about this at all. If you don't feel like you have "good" friends at the moment, seek some out. Some of my closest friends were other mom's that I met at the preschool or playgroups or church. In a children's book we read to our children, it says "If you want to make a friend, be a friend." It's obvious (again) and true. If you have young children and feel in need of some friends, you're not the only one!
You may need to reach out to some other moms. You may even need to create some opportunities for yourself to meet other moms (MOPS: Mothers of Preschoolers is a great one!). But the value of a good friend cannot be underestimated. The joy that you'll find in these friendships can bring some much needed balance to the stress that comes with motherhood.
You're right. It's obvious. But sometimes it's the obvious things that are easy to over look and take for granted. Like good friends.
Just this evening we took a few hours to go visit with some friends for their daughter's 2nd birthday. It was hot and kids were everywhere. Under different circumstances the whole scenario would have been a nightmare. But with good friends, the whole thing is the best part of life.
Less than glamorous moments suddenly become laughable instead of embarrassing. The argument you had with your spouse before the party is made light of and swept away. The fact that one of the kids was up every hour on the hour last night is sympathized with. And you can swap stories about who hit who, or how potty training is going, or how badly you need a night out.
I think the best thing mom's can do (and dad's too) is to make time for friends. Find people who you love and who love you and just be together. Too often we find ourselves stuck in a rut, trapped in our bubble, and sulking in our own mess. Life is messy, but friends help us to feel more put together. Even being with other parents a few times a month creates room to laugh and breath, share struggles and experiences, and care for one another. It's called community.
There's nothing complicated about this at all. If you don't feel like you have "good" friends at the moment, seek some out. Some of my closest friends were other mom's that I met at the preschool or playgroups or church. In a children's book we read to our children, it says "If you want to make a friend, be a friend." It's obvious (again) and true. If you have young children and feel in need of some friends, you're not the only one!
You may need to reach out to some other moms. You may even need to create some opportunities for yourself to meet other moms (MOPS: Mothers of Preschoolers is a great one!). But the value of a good friend cannot be underestimated. The joy that you'll find in these friendships can bring some much needed balance to the stress that comes with motherhood.
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