Friendships

I want to write a bit today about what "friendship" means to me.
I'm a busy mom.  I don't often get the chance to sit and have coffee with a girlfriend.  I don't take shopping trips or have wild "girls night out" very often.
But this past week, I was reminded that even though I may feel like I'm not connecting with my friends, this is not the case.

I had a nice cup of coffee and visit with a neighbour.  She and I share the common experience of being home with 3 small children.  Just having someone to share the stories, the complaints and of course the happy things too, means a lot.  I feel so fortunate that our move to this new area has brought with it the chance to connect with neighbours in similar life-stage to us.  There is such a camaraderie created by chasing kids down the street, shovelling driveways full of snow or borrowing an extra-large slow cooker for a soup too big for your own.  These new found friendships will grow over time as our kids get older.  It's a comfortable sort of arrangement.

Then there are the friendships that have been developing for years.  One of my university girlfriends came for a visit this past weekend...with her husband and 3 young boys to boot!  I always find a certain sense of rejuvenation when I see her (or any of my pre-baby, pre-husband, pre-adult friends).  Though we live far apart and see each other once a year (at best), our friendship just fits like your favourite pair of jeans.  We can just slip right back into it like we never missed a beat.  Seeing her was like a breath of fresh air.  Watching our kids play together, our husbands bond over beer and home improvement talk...it was just so great!  Our weekend felt too short and though we did not get the chance to get dressed up and go out for dinner and dancing (like we used to) it was still such a nice bonding weekend for us.

So to me, friendship is about someone knowing when you need a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine.  It's washing your children's hands for you after snack, or rinsing your dishes.  It's the friend that knows her way around your kitchen and can find a spoon, a coffee mug or a sippy cup.  It's the woman that makes you a pot of soup when you've just had a baby and that you can call to complain to when you've had the worst morning ever with your kids. She's the lady that will listen to you ramble on and on about the silly things that are bothering you and you can count on in any crisis.

I feel so blessed that I have some amazing women in my life. Some of them I see and talk to often, others are  living in far off places (like Qatar and the U.K).   Thanks to all of you and the special things you bring to my life.

Dinner and dancing soon enough.  Our big 4-0 is not far away!!!