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Monday, July 8th, 2013From Monday Mom – Neetika:
We moved into our new apartment months ago, but in some ways it feels like yesterday. I’m proud to say we’ve made the space our own and set it up in a way that uniquely suits us. There’s no doubt a toddler lives here! I don’t love the constant clutter, but I’ve realized that it is what it is—it’s not going to change any time soon and I might as well embrace the chaos. I’m slowly getting used to it.
In other ways, we’re so entrenched in our lives it’s hard to believe our routine was ever different. I’ve made some great mom friends in the area, and I’ve come to rely on them so much it’s hard to believe I didn’t even know them a year ago. Of course I still love my non-parent friends, but there’s something about sharing your experiences with someone is who in the trenches as well. When Haley causes a scene at a store, it can be mortifying. People stare at you as if they were never children themselves, as if your poor parenting is to blame for a toddler being a toddler! However, when I see my mom friends a few hours later and they can completely commiserate with me, I feel much better. No matter what happened, they always seem to say “Oh, that was us last week!” It makes me feel so much less alone.
My friends have taught me so much it’s really hard to describe—when not to give a child pain reliever, how much food is really enough, that it’s okay to hold off on potty training, the secrets to a longer nap—the list goes on! I’m glad Haley has their children for playmates and I’m thankful that I have pals of my own. Now if we could just add in a few more “Mom’s Night Outs,” it would be perfect!