Oh, the friends you'll make

What would I tell a mother to be? Besides the obvious stories of loving your babies more than life and never getting enough sleep. This is what I would day. Girl, you are going to make the best friends of your life!  I have always been someone who values friendship. I am a good friend. However, I must admit that most of my friends before I had kids were like me: creative types with panache-women who knew their way around art galleries, theaters, and the latest coffee houses.  My friends could discuss the trajectory of English poets but couldn’t balance their checkbooks. Our idea of cooking dinner was making a reservation at our favorite Thai food place.

I’m still friends with all these women but now I have a whole new world of friends simply because I am a Mom. My pal Jennifer and I were both pregnant with twins at the same time. We had the same midwife. Our midwife introduced us.  Jennifer is a nutritionist, Through her, I was exposed to the wonderful world of organic cooking . After the birth of our children, Jennifer signed us up for heavy physical training with a personal trainer. I only went because of Jennifer. If it had been up to me, I would have stayed on the couch eating a high carb diet. My friend, Stacy has a son the same age as my twins. A financial wizard, she prodded me about setting up a 529 for my kids and even got my check book in somewhat decent order. My daughter’s favorite dance partner in Rock Toddler class is Violet. Violet’s Mother is a tattoo and clothing designer. You wouldn’t believe the frocks she has made for us. All these friendships came as a direct result from me being a Mom. These women never would have crossed my path otherwise. And the best part is we are all raising small children at this period of time. I can call them; cry with them and vent with them. We are there for each other. I have opened to new world. Some of my new friends had never been to theater in LA. Well, now they come to see my work. The friends you make because you’re a Mom is one of the biggest perks to our job. And I’m telling you, I’m grateful.

This is an original post for LA Mom's Blog  Jennifer also blogs at Backstage LA and is working on a new play about two mothers who are best friends