Girls' night out, venting with my bestie at pickup after school, and leisurely brunches with my group of gal pals have all gone by the wayside since the pandemic started. But since necessity is the mother of invention and we all need our mom circle to stay sane, my ride-or-dies and I have found creative ways to steal away for mere moments and entire evenings in one another’s company.
Here are just 10 ways my mom friendships are keeping me sane during the pandemic. Perhaps some of them will inspire you too!
Drink cocktails or coffee in parked cars
Three words: telescoping s’mores skewers
I didn’t know telescoping s’mores skewers existed before the pandemic, but now they really light my fire. One of my dearest gal pals lit a fire pit in her driveway, set up a socially distanced circle of chairs around the fire, and handed out these handy skewers that extend all the way from your chair to the fire to make s’mores. How sweet it was to gather round a fire, socially distanced with dear friends in person to tell your life’s latest stories. There’s something ancestral and cleansing in the experience of storytelling by fire and bonding under the night sky. It’s sure to fill your spirit.
The always open, never-ending text chain
Since my friends and I rarely get a chance to talk on the phone without kids interrupting every other sentence, we seek solace in text chains as a perpetual line of communication. We can pop on anytime to send inside jokes and funny GIFS, and for a quick check-in to make sure all is well.
Netflix & chat
A quaint viewing of Bridgerton with a spot of tea? Don’t mind if I do! My friends and I don’t have time to binge-watch an entire season in one sitting, but we make evening or late-night plans to watch shows together, one episode at a time. Teleparty is a great platform for this. You can download it for free and then watch shows in synchronization with your friends online.
Rely on mentor moms as anchors
OK, so they’re not your mom “friends” IRL per se, but several of the moms getting me through the pandemic are doing so via Instagram. This village of moms includes Dr. Becky Kennedy. Funnily enough, Blake Lively shares my opinion since she just shared in her Instagram stories: “@drbeckyathome is my parental ride or die. If you don’t follow her yet… you’re welcome. You will never be the same again.” Dr. Becky offers tons of expert parenting advice and “practical strategies” for navigating kids and home life. There’s literally a mom guru on Instagram for every topic. Find the moms who speak to your heart and follow them.
Cook or bake via video with your OG girlfriend: your mom
There’s no better time to learn how to bake those cinnamon roll sugar cookies you’re convinced only your mom can make, or to whip up a batch of the jumbo stuffed shells she cooks to perfection. I set up video calls and work side by side with my mom in the kitchen, so I can learn her secrets firsthand and she can pass down her best family recipes to me for all of posterity.
Meet up for an online event
Eventbrite offers so many free and paid events to choose from, so I often reach out to friends who share the same interest in everything from self-improvement workshops and yoga and meditation to music lessons and gardening, and we sign up for these events together.
