Being a parent is unique and wonderful. It can also feel lonely and isolating. I never realized how hard it would be to build and maintain friendships as an adult, especially once I became a parent. Life is…different.
I’ve come to realize that I am incredibly blessed to have a group of ladies that I call friends, a tribe. I can’t wait until the world rights itself, and we can resume our in-person shenanigans.
I am also blessed to have not one but two tribes of amazing friends that are all online. I’ve known many of them for upwards of eighteen years since becoming a mother. And most of them? I’ve never met in person.
If you did your math right, you’d realize our friendship began in the days before Facebook and even Myspace! I would never have thought that logging on to a random internet message board would result in some outstanding bonds that have stood the test of time.
I guarantee that if we all lived close enough, we’d be the friends that were always at each other’s houses, coffee (or wine) in hand, catching up on what’s been happening in our lives since the day before. I can only imagine what it would be like if we all lived in the same neighborhood!
But we don’t. We live in different states, different countries, and even different continents! That doesn’t seem to matter, though. These women aren’t just friends. They’re extended family. Many of their children graduated high school last year, just like my oldest. It was like getting to see so many nieces and nephews graduate and move on to the next phase in their lives! We’ve watched each other’s kids grow up. We’ve been there for each other through some severe highs and lows.
Like me, your tribe is out there. However, they may not look like what you expect. Friendship can come when you least expect it, too. It might come in the form of that very shy co-worker who, at first glance, you have absolutely nothing in common with until she strikes up the most random conversation about her favorite pen! And that conversation may be the beginning of a lasting friendship.
It may come by forcing yourself to step outside your comfort zone and get to know some of your child’s classmates’ parents. Hot tip: volunteer to serve on a committee with some of those parents – you might meet some marvelous people!
Those friendships may seem like they’re hiding and that you’ll never find them. Don’t give up. Keep looking. Give people a chance; give yourself a chance! Your people are out there.
If you’re local and looking to make connections, follow us at Lubbock Moms, and join one or more of our Facebook groups: Lubbock Moms: Conversation + Community; Lubbock Dads: Conversation + Community; Lubbock Moms: Book Club; Lubbock Mom for a Minute; Moms in the Hub Podcast.
Share what you’re thankful for in the comments below!
