I have always been blessed to have a lot of girlfriends in my life, some of whom I would call as close as family; wonderful women that I confide in, trust, enjoy spending time with and without whom, I don’t know where or who I’d be.
I have friends from high school, friends from college, single friends, divorced friends, mommy friends, friends I gained through my first marriage, friends that I gained through my second marriage, colleagues that became friends, neighbors that became friends and friends clear across the globe.
Thanks to my blog and addiction to Twitter, I also have friends that I have never even met!
Apart from my friends, I’m even luckier that my husband understands how important these friendships are to me.
However, for a busy mom like me, finding time to spend with my girlfriends is always challenging and recognizing the signs that it’s time to schedule some girl time isn’t always easy either. My core group of friends consists of six women I try to see on a regular basis. Three are married with children and three are still looking. We schedule playdates, walks, lunch, happy hours, dinners and the very rare overnight escapes get-aways.
The time we spend together is always beneficial and we do what all good girlfriends do: laugh, drink (within moderation, of course), eat (dessert first), share, commiserate, gossip, talk about our kids, our jobs, our families, our spouses, or lack there of and have a good time, all while recharging our batteries.
When was the last time you had some good old fashioned girl time? When was the last time you had a few hours away from the kids to breathe in some fresh air on a long walk with your BFF and get caught up on each others lives? When was the last time you had a night off from the dinner, bath and bedtime routine?
If it’s been a while and you need to blow off a little steam, call your girlfriends!
If work is getting the best of you, your brain is fried and your boss is on your case, call your girlfriends!
If the only person you’ve talked to in days is under three feet tall, hangs on your legs and is still in diapers, call your girlfriends!
If you’ve had a tiff with your spouse or significant other or need to lament about why he hasn’t called, call your girlfriends!
If you just bought a gorgeous new pair of shoes, a handbag or a darling pleated skirt from the Jason Wu collection at Target, call your girlfriends!
If you recently got a promotion, a new job, sold your house, or have any wonderful reason to celebrate, call your girlfriends!
If you need help with a life changing decision, call your girlfriends!
If your girlfriends are like mine, they help you work through life’s ups and downs, supporting and encouraging you every step of the way. They center you and make you a better mother in the process. And no matter what, they’ve always got your back.
Photo credit: greekadman
