Treasured Mom Friends

I’ve gotta say, I’m a better mom when I get some little breaks. I am a patient person overall and I truly enjoy time with both of my kids, but there are parts of this journey that are tough. So, a yearly tradition of having my college friends come for the weekend means the world to me.

Everyone Needs a Break Sometimes

As a mom, there are small things that have become pet peeves that drive me a little bonkers.  For example, I have been watching Baby Einstein videos since my oldest son was born…so 20 YEARS! In fairness to Will, he watched them for the typical one year. But my buddy Michael still watches them every day. I can recite the poems in Baby Shakespeare from memory. I’d love to tell you that’s because I’m a real poetry buff, but I am not.  It’s just those 5 or 6 poems and The Tyger, by William Blake (thank you 10^th grade English). The point is, I have watched those movies A LOT.

I went through a solid decade of Barney and that, let me tell you, nearly killed me.  I have probably read every Curious George book we have at least 100 times and I have sung Old MacDonald more times than I can count. Every week for years, I have gone to the grocery store freezer section and picked out the exact same brand of frozen pizza and ice pops. And we have toys in our house that I have played with 6,000 times because Michael still enjoys them and that’s pretty much the whole point of toys.

These routines comfort Michael and make him feel safe, loved and understood.  I wouldn’t change that for the world, but for me, the urge to shake up the routine is real. And if we can do that with dear friends, even better!  Mikey is a part of these days. It’s not about getting away from him, but instead about having a day that is unique and special. I think these are great days for him too.  On this day, my friend D gave him rides around the pool and he enjoyed his hot dogs and chips.

On these days, I sit out in the backyard with my family and friends and I just enjoy their company. I can’t hear the TV, but instead we put on some good tunes. I don’t make frozen pizza, Dave just handles a delicious cookout and I reconnect with people who knew me before my whole life was taken over by caring for a special needs child. Will always joins us and catches up with these wonderful people he has known his whole life. That’s an especially beautiful development.

It is a profoundly special yearly tradition for me to have my college friends come and stay for the weekend.  It rejuvenates me and reminds me of a time when life was simpler.  It also highlights how lucky I am to have people who love me, my husband and both of our boys. I’m so lucky to have this beautiful family life, AND I sure do appreciate a little break now and then.