by Danielle Scroggins

Created on: August 07, 2009   Last Updated: August 08, 2009

I'm not very good at letting go. In fact, I kind of suck at it. I blame my nomadic military brat childhood, but in reality, it's probably just part of my genetic fiber. I spent my primary years desperately trying to put down roots in a new place only to have them pulled up seemingly minutes later. I was a dandelion; springing up all over the place, spreading roots as far as I could, but not really sticking around for the whole season. I have no doubt it was good for me, and helped shaped me into the person I am today, but it also made me wish for deeper roots and lasting friendships.

I remember moving from Beeville, TX in 4th grade, and vowing to write my friends everyday to keep them in my life. I did write, not everyday, but enough to send them a wedding invitation years later. That situation repeated with every new home. We moved. I made friends. We moved away. I missed them. Their memory wasn't enough. It was and still is incomprehensible to me that friendship should change because of distance, circumstance, or plain old life. But-I am beginning to think that might be how life works.

Recently, my daughter attended a birthday party for a little girl I've known since my first minutes as a stay-at-home-mom. They have spent a lifetime playing together-literally. They were potty-trained together, and napped together. My daughter's first sleepover was at her house, and they both orchestrated a lemonade stand during a garage sale. Twice. They've made sugar cookies, mini-pizzas, play-do castles, and beaded jewelry. They consoled each other on the hardships of younger brothers, and shared the wonderful excitement of kindergarten. They dreamed of how they could be "real sisters" someday.

While this wonderful bonding was happening between the girls, a unique friendship evolved between their moms. A friendship sharing our children, our parenting, and the hardships that accompany motherhood. A friendship that was raw and real-as friendships among moms can be. In those moments, there's no glossing over the fact that your baby won't stop crying long enough for a phone conversation; no laughing off #2 in your 2 year old"s "big girl panties"; no miracle cosmetic to hide those dark circles, and no solution to hide your exhaustion, your worry, and your insecurity. We shared everyday stuff. The boring stuff. Lunch, naptime, playdates, stroller rides, Old Navy sales, sunscreen, broken dishwashers, dirty houses...the stuff of life. We talked about losing weight, cheap vacation

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>