Dear Sarah,
Our journey together began during our first pregnancies, just months apart, filled with excitement and a healthy dose of naivety regarding the road ahead. We exchanged casual conversations about pregnancy experiences and wished each other well. Then, a chance encounter at the grocery store led us to share phone numbers, which, unbeknownst to me, would blossom into a treasured friendship over the next five years and five children.
When I first embraced motherhood, my circle of friends shrank significantly. The upheaval in my life made maintaining friendships a challenge, and the isolation of new motherhood hit me hard. I craved the connection of fellow moms, and you were right there alongside me. We shared that same stunned look, suspended between joy, confusion, tears, and a hint of madness.
Those playdates at the park with our infants became my lifeline. We confided in each other about cracked nipples, sleepless nights, and the surreal feeling of being strangers in our own bodies. We celebrated our babies’ milestones, marveling at the sheer brilliance of a child rolling over at just six months. Soon enough, our little ones transformed from helpless blobs into energetic toddlers.
As our children have grown, the challenges of parenting have intensified, but you’ve been there to help me find humor in the tough days and revel in the joyful moments. You listen to my endless tales of my kids’ accomplishments, and when I jokingly refer to them as “little monsters,” you never judge—because you know they’ve earned that title! You’re one of the few willing to engage in conversations interrupted by squabbling children, shrieking toddlers, and a barrage of questions from preschoolers. Even when we lose track of our discussions, I’m grateful to know I can always reach out to you.
Remember that one time I called you, utterly defeated, from the bathroom while my child threw a tantrum outside? Or that evening when I was too exhausted to handle dinner and bedtime, and you came over to feed and bathe my kids while I collapsed on your living room floor? And let’s not forget when we planned that girls’ night out, and I almost canceled because I was a wreck, but you insisted I needed it and made sure I went. Thank you! You’ve been my lifeline more times than I can count.
You’ve taken on so many roles in my life: the thread that holds my sanity together, my marriage counselor, my fitness partner, and my go-to babysitter. You never judge the state of my home, and I don’t feel the need to dress up or even wear a bra when you visit. You would hold my child’s vomit in your hands without a second thought. That’s what true friendship means. You are my sister from another mister, my soul mate, my partner in this wild journey of motherhood, and I honestly don’t know how I would manage without you.
With all my love,
Your Gratefully Exhausted Momma Friend
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