There’s Nothing Quite Like a Mom Friend

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• There’s Nothing Quite Like a Mom Friend

by Sarah Henderson

Updated: April 29, 2021

Originally Published: June 15, 2016

When my close friend, Emma, became a mom before any of us, it felt surreal. After welcoming her adorable son in June of 2014, I made a trip to the hospital, brought her a meal, and made a few visits to snuggle her little one. During those moments, I found myself venting about the demands of my full-time job as she listened patiently, occasionally sharing snippets of her own sleepless nights and the emotional toll of new motherhood. I felt guilty for not quite understanding her struggles—after all, I was still living the child-free life, able to hop in my car and go wherever I pleased without a care.

Emma often mentioned her new “mom friends” from a support group at the hospital, emphasizing the bond they shared. I felt a pang of jealousy; what made these “Mom-Friends” so special? The answer was simple: they had babies. When I asked Emma how these connections formed, she just said, “There’s nothing like a Mom-Friend.”

Fast forward to July 2015, and I welcomed my own little girl after a whirlwind of a labor experience. The first week at home was a blur of sleeplessness and tears—whether it was struggling to breastfeed or simply feeling overwhelmed by my new reality. My first solo car ride with my daughter was to that same support group Emma had attended, and let me tell you, it was a chaotic journey filled with her endless cries. I was in tears myself by the time we arrived.

Once in the group, I sat nervously on the floor, hoping my baby wouldn’t get hungry. Of course, she did, and I fumbled with my nursing cover, flustered and already on the verge of tears. But as I looked around, I saw another mom confidently nursing her baby, and in that moment, I realized I had found my tribe.

In the weeks that followed, those moms became my lifeline. We bonded over coffee before class, sharing everything from our babies’ milestones to our own struggles—weight gain, sleep deprivation, and the toll of childbirth on our bodies and relationships. We shared our fears, our laughter, and our tears, forging connections that felt both deep and necessary.

As our little ones grew, many of my Mom-Friends returned to work, causing our meetups to dwindle, but our friendship remained strong. We still reached out to each other during the late-night panic of parenting. We were now planning 1st birthday parties and discussing future pregnancies. Recently, we gathered sans kids, and it struck me: these Mom-Friends had transformed into true friends.

Together, we navigated the early days of motherhood, often sporting our trusty black leggings that hid our postpartum bodies and matched the dark circles under our eyes. We supported each other through the ups and downs, some of us still dealing with the aftermath of motherhood while others celebrated newfound confidence. It’s a new normal we’ve embraced, filled with joy, challenges, and the shared experience of this incredible journey.

I hope our friendships last, allowing us to witness our children grow while reminiscing about those early days of sleepless nights and postpartum struggles. Regardless, I will always cherish the moments and the women who stood by me through the highs and lows of new motherhood. There’s truly nothing quite like a Mom-Friend.

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