If you're anything like me, the journey of motherhood has been a wild ride filled with equal parts joy and insanity — profound moments of bliss peppered amongst the rubble of occasional misery. From sleepless nights and teething troubles to temper tantrums and potty training all the way through teaching them to drive and watching them get their hearts broken by boys, being a mom is no easy feat.
That’s without even taking into consideration any unforeseen trauma or tragedy. Those are just the “normal” and “good” days of motherhood. But you know what's gotten me through it all? My mom friends. They are everything I never knew I always needed.
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First-Time Mom Seeking Other Moms
When I first became a mom 19 long years ago, I was so overwhelmed from the start. Hello, anyone else have a surprise unmedicated Pitocin-induced baby? It was rough. I had done all the research, read all the books, and “thought” I had this whole parenting thing down. I mean all those years of helping to raise my five younger siblings and babysitting in my teens had to have amply prepared me for parenting, right? Boy was I in for a rude awakening! From the moment my daughters were born, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty.
While I was ecstatic to be a new mom and I absolutely adored my girls, the thing no one tells you is that with the privilege of loving so deeply comes worrying equally as deep. I wanted to do everything right. I had so many questions. Is she eating enough? Is this normal poop? Why won't she sleep?! And no one to turn to.
Sure, my own mom tried her best to offer advice and reassurance, but let's be real – motherhood has evolved so much since she raised us. I needed the perspective of other moms who were in the thick of it too. That's when I discovered the power of the sisterhood of motherhood.
If You Build it, They Will Come
They say if you build it they will come, so I started reaching out to other new moms I knew in real life. But we had just relocated to a new city in a new part of the country, and even with an involved partner and all the Little Gym and Kindermusik classes in the world, my circle was just too small to be effective.
This was my “build it and they will come” moment. I started my mom blog, Motherhood Truth, where I shared the good/bad/most vulnerable and honest moments of motherhood. From there, I engaged with these amazing women and built my own community online. Suddenly, a whole new world opened up. Suddenly, I had a tribe of women who "got it." Who understood the joy and the struggle, the countless tiny victories and the times you just want to cry in the bathroom for five minutes of peace.
More importantly, they got me. These women became my lifelines, my support system, my sanity savers. Whether it was a late night text asking if it was normal for a baby to projectile vomit after every feeding (it is, by the way), twice weekly playdates, or meeting up for a much-needed mom's night out to vent about our husbands, kids, and the general insanity of it all, these women were, and still are, my people. They were the ones who empathized, offered advice, and reminded me that I wasn't alone in this crazy journey.
The Sisterhood of Motherhood Is for Life
And you know what? Those connections only deepened as our kids grew. My "mom friends" quickly became some of my closest, most cherished friendships. We've been there for each other through every milestone and meltdown, celebrating the wins and holding each other up during the hard times. The things we’ve been through sometimes makes it feel like we’ve been in the trenches in a war together.
There was the time I badly broke my leg and ended up immobile for three months. So many of my mom friends dropped everything to help me out and pick up the slack my immobilization caused: getting my girls to and from school and extracurricular activities, running errands, and offering a shoulder to lean on.
Or when my friend Nicole went through a painful divorce. The whole crew rallied around her, doing playdates and girls' nights to make sure she didn't feel alone.
Even the smaller, day-to-day moments are made infinitely better by having that sisterhood. Commiserating over the horrors of potty training and boys. Hyping each other up before big PTA meetings. Laughing until we cry about the ridiculous things our kids (and husbands) do. These women get me in a way no one else can. These are friendships we’ve bonded and forged in fire.
All Moms Deserve a Mom Squad
I know I'm not alone in this. Ask any mom and she'll tell you: Her friends, her "mom squad," are her lifeline. We may not have deliberately chosen to be in the trenches of parenthood together, but there's an unbreakable bond that forms when you're navigating the joys and struggles side-by-side.
If you're a new mom feeling alone and overwhelmed, my advice is simple: Find your people. Reach out to other moms, whether it's joining a local parenting group, connecting on social media, or just striking up a conversation at the playground. Those bonds may start small, but they have the power to grow into the kind of friendships that can truly save your sanity.
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Cheers to All the Real Ones
To all my fellow veteran mamas out there, take a moment to celebrate your sisterhood. Think about the women who have been there for you, lifted you up, and walked this road alongside you. Reach out, plan a girls' night, or just send a quick text to let them know how much they mean to you.
Because at the end of the day, we moms have to stick together. The parenting journey is too tough and lonely without the support of our mom tribe. So cheers to the sisterhood of motherhood – the women who make the hard days a little easier, the good days even better, and every moment in between something to cherish.
