You’re My People

Making friends isn’t just hard when you’re in school and I would argue that it actually gets harder as you come into adult- and parenthood. When you reach that stage, your husband has to get along with their husband, and your kids have to like their kids. And then if anything in that equation doesn’t work out, then you have to either (a) keep trying to make everyone happy, or (b) scrap that relationship and find someone new to try again with. It’s exhausting.

Things have to line up with all the personalities to make it all work and when it does, it’s like fireworks. Seriously, it’s so great to have someone that makes you feel like you’re not completely losing it. It’s a relief when you receive a text at 10:15am that says “Wanna come over? I’m done with parenting for today” and your kids have been fighting since the moment their beautiful blue eyes opened. So you pick up chick-fil-a and go over. All of the kids play together, you can sit their with your mom friend and complain about work, laundry, kids activities, whatever. It makes you feel like you’re not the worst mom on the planet (even though the little one told you that this morning), makes you feel like you might even be doing okay.

So:

• If you’re the one that is throwing mismatched socks at your little one while you pack a lunchable for the 4th day in a row (because that’s all they will eat), you’re my people.

• If your kids are running around naked because they don’t have anything clean after changing clothes 14 times this morning, you’re my people.

• If you are digging a clean-ish team jersey out of the hamper because they didn’t tell you they needed them until time to put them on, you’re my people.

• If you’re on your 3rd day of dry shampoo and the same leggings with no end in sight, you’re my people.

• If you take a deep breath after drop off at school in the morning because it’s a little bit of a relief, you’re my people.
  
• If your idea of a playdate is the kids playing while you lay/nap on the couch, scrolling through Instagram/Pinterest with a Fixer Upper marathon on, you’re 100% my people.

• If you pretend the slow walk around the car (after wrestling your toddler into a carseat) is a vacation, yep, you’re my people.

• If you have ever had to carry your 2 year old out of Target football style because you wouldn’t push the big cart (you know, the ones with the seats on the back), you’re my people.

• If you know your kid read their book, but you forgot to sign their reading log… again… you’re my people.

• If you can’t wait for bedtime because then you have free time to…. I don’t know, load the dishwasher… then you’re my people.

• If you miss their little hands rubbing your face while they fall asleep, you’re my people.

• If you would do anything for that grumpy little army that you created, you’re my people.

• If you dream of time alone, but then you miss the tiny dictators asking for snacks, definitely my people.

In light of this, I want you to know that you’re doing okay (regardless of what the little people say). You’re doing your best and that’s all they want. If you still don’t feel like it, start at the top and read it again. I promise, you’re doing great… even if you haven’t showered this week (after all, it’s only Tuesday).

–E