Friendship and motherhood are very similar. Before motherhood we develop the skills necessary to become good mothers through nurturing our friendships. Once we become mothers, we need friendship to get us through the tough parts of motherhood. Both friendship and motherhood evolve through time. The newborn stage is exciting, yet can be tiring. Learning about each other, treading carefully through the unknown. After a couple of years you start to rely more on one another. Memories are made, the bond grows even stronger. At some point you feel as if you can’t remember what your life was like without this person and you don’t ever want to.
I treasure my friends and the time spent together. My friendships have evolved from single life to mommy life. Long shopping trips and movies have been replaced with playgrounds and birthday parties. My old self would seem to think that sort of friendship would be boring. That sort of friendship must revolve around conversations about potty training and breastfeeding. Then I became a mom and “got it”. Moms need close mom friends to survive this crazy motherhood thing. My mom friends are amazing. They are nurturing, empathetic, talented, and loving moms, who would do anything for their children and their friends.
A few weeks ago I had a fantastic day with my friend Erin and her two boys at the National Arboretum. I’d like to say it was the perfect sitcom like day, where all the kids behaved like angels and we pushed them around in their strollers. Ha! Who am I kidding? Does anyone ever experience this? The kids ran around chasing each other, tried to jump in the fish pond several times and did not want to sit for any longer than 10 seconds. We persevered together, just as mom’s do. In the end we did manage to sit down in the shade and talk. Not just small talk but real nurturing, adult conversation. It was the best thirty minutes of the week.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree 100% on needing mommy friends. I had my son at 22 and all my friends were still in the party stage of life {a stage I never seemed to go through} so I lost most of my ‘friends’. The ones that really stuck around were either my best friends who understood or other mom’s. I think we need other moms not only for the friendship aspect of it, but also for someone to run to in a scary situation, like a child who is sick. Why not call your mommy friends and see if they might have already gone through this?
Looks like you guy had a blast! My son is only one, so he still stays put {most of the time} in the stroller.. but never in the shopping cart. For some reason he thinks he needs to stand up in the seat of the cart!
It’s so nice to be able to talk to grown-ups sometimes, and you sure did so in the midst of loveliness. The flowers are absolutely gorgeous, and the kids are adorable!
Twitter: jennwrites
June 13, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Love my mommy friends! LOVE your pics! The children are precious!
Twitter: hollyoshesky
June 13, 2012 at 9:37 AM
Gardens and arboretums are some of my favorite places to take pictures. Your coi picture is amazing!
That is awesome that you have some close “mommy friends” I think they are essential. Your pics are awesome! Looks like a beautiful place to visit!
I totally agree!!! Every mommy needs mommy friends, preferably one that has kids the same or close to the same age as hers.
It’s so important to share and connect with someone who is going through the same or similar experiences!! It looks like you all had a wonderful time!! What beautiful flowers and photos!! 
Thanks so much. I just love photographing flowers and places like this. So much fun when I have the kids with me as well.
Sounds like a great day! Yeah, I don’t know what I’d do without my friends (my mommy friends)! Your shots came out great; those flower ones are amazing!
How true this is! Moms, rookie and veteran alike, really neeeed the support of other moms! There’s something that only a fellow mom can relate to and those bonds are true and strong!
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~ Ferly
Gifts We Use {to grow, love and serve}
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