Dear Mom Squad

Dear Mom Squad, 

I just wanted to say thank you. It's hard making friends in your 30's. When I moved back home, I was 27 and about to get married. I wasn't sure who to invite to the wedding. I assumed I would resume old friendships - from school and summers spent back home waitressing. But most people were in different stages of their lives - already married, many with children. And friend groups had continued and evolved without me. I wasn't the best at keeping in touch. 

Within six months of moving home, I started a new job, got married, and bought a house. It was a lot. There wasn't time to be lonely. But I did get lonely. And I've found that being a mom can be lonely. That's where you come in, mom friends, or as my husband has dubbed you - "Mom Squad."

Thanks for listening to me. Messenger may as well be another member of Mom Squad. Those three bouncing dots and gentle dings mean that there's someone else out there. I am not alone, no matter the ungodly hour.

Thanks for giving me advice. When I ask - because unsolicited advice is the worst. But I so appreciate all of the times I've reached out and been met with honest, practical advice about the most mundane things - dishes that suction to highchair trays, stain remover, baby sunscreen, baby bug spray, baby monitors, baby-led weaning, vehicle sunshades, and road trip hacks. It all helps. 

Thanks for waiting for me. Punctuality has never been my strong suit. And having a baby has certainly not helped my case. Even when I think I'll have plenty of time, there always seems to be that last-minute emergency outfit change or hunt for a MIA, Sophie giraffe. So thank you for waiting for me. At your house, at the coffee shop, at the bakery, at the pool, at the park, at the walking track - and on the walking track.

Thanks for commiserating with me. About sleep regressions and teething and ALL THE FEELINGS - exhaustion, frustration, overwhelm, fear, doubt, and anger. 

Thanks for celebrating with me. About rolling over, sitting up, sleeping through the night (I am very excited to celebrate this one), and all of those other little triumphs that act as buoys to keep our heads above water.   

Thanks for laughing with me. About mistaking body wash for shampoo. About the nicknames (Grumpelstiltskin and Brennis the Menace being my current favourites). About that time I said, "I've really let myself go. I was using this shirt to wipe spit-up off Brenna last night and totally forgot to turn it off." Yikes.

Thanks for understanding - or at least for not judging me. When I'm late, when I'm tired and not very fun, when my bra is hanging out and my shirt is stained. 

Thanks for the walks, the coffees, the lunches, the doughnuts, the invites. Thanks for making the good times better and the hard times just a little more bearable. If you're feeling lonely or in search of a squad, we're always open to new members - as long as you don't mind this one being late. 

Sincerely, 

Your Tired, Bra-Baring, Stained Friend