You've got a friend in me.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 8:09PM I often reflect on what kind of person I am. I think it's human nature to think about, wonder & analyse who we are, what we do & why we do it.
At the end of most days, usually in a quiet moment, I think about my doings of that day. I can be hard on myself. I hate to disappoint....myself, but more so; others.
However lately, most of my reflections are about me as a Mother. My days seem to be consumed with nappy changes, feedtimes, sleep settling, imaginative 4 yr old play, tidying up & general 'mummy chores'. I'm a Mother! I love being a Mother. I'm happy being a Mother! And whilst my babies are still young & dependent....that's my main role.
But, like most Mums....we are more than just Mothers. We're daughters, wives, sisters, aunties, collegues, cousins, nieces, friends & more. And with so much of my time, love & energy put into being a Mother, I wonder about the other roles I'm neglecting.
It got me thinking about friends. My beautiful friends....and what kind of a friend I am to them. I worry that I'm a crappy friend, especially over the past few crazy months of newborns, sleep deprivation & moving house! The older I'm getting, the faster it seems time is whizzing by. I blink and another week has gone by!
Moni & I. Been besties for 20years!
I have friends from all walks of life. Friends I've known forever & friends I've just met these past few years. I can't imagine life without my network of pals....my support systems.....my girls! They're always there for me....through love & loss & life. They show up. They ask. They love my babies. They care.
It hit me last Saturday, whilst I was out to lunch with a bunch of my closest friends. It was a mission to get there......to pack 2 kids up for the whole day out {so much stuff needed, it's ridiculous} - to get to ballet on time, then back in the car to go vote, to then drive 35 minutes South to catch the girls for lunch. It would've been easier to say No, to miss out on the lunch date!! But, it was Prue's Birthday. We were celebrating! And as we dined in a funky little cafe by the beach and I rocked my grizzly baby boy to sleep in my arms whilst talking life & love with the girls.....I saw my two me's; The 'Mummy Me' and the 'Friend Me'. And I felt grateful that the two can connect.....they can be interlocked into one. My friends embrace my life as a Mumma, they carry & cuddle & love my kids...which makes me happy.
I have to pick & choose which events & gatherings I attend these days. Coz my life is about being Mummy now, and that's awesome. But I still love {and need} time with my friends....so when I can combine being a Mum & a friend....I'm happy! {Although some baby-free time with friends is soul-replenshing too!}
Now that life is starting to settle again and we're finding a new groove as a family of 4, I'm finding the time again to do more with my friends. To make more effort. To be a good friend again. Finding the time isn't easy....life is busy.....but when I reflect back on each day....I want to know that I was a good Mumma that day.....and a good friend too. I'm trying to think of new ways to fit in time with my friends & my family on top of Ella's busy social life {hahaha....yep at 4, she has more scheduled friend-dates than I do!}, running a business & a house and finding a few seconds for myself.
Can you relate? Do you have any suggestions on how to still be a big part of your friend's lives....whilst juggling Motherhood?
