True Friends

Day 30.

Friday, January 30, 2009.

Today I went with a dear friend, Jeni, to Ikea. It was chaotic at times, funny at times, but overall really enjoyable. We did leave with a sense of: let's not do this again with 4 kids...for a long time. I hate shopping. But, I think it helped us spend less money. :)

I am grateful for friends that I can be myself with.

Jeni and I both have similar parenting outlooks (don't ask me to define what that is...), so it's nice to be in a place like Ikea (for 4 hours, nonetheless!) with her. We had many of almost-meltdown moments, but somehow with the extra company, we made it through with almost no one crying. Actually, I can't really think of a time when anyone cry? Maybe I'm blocking it from my memory, or maybe it really didn't happen!

The more I talk to friends and relatives in far off locations who DON'T have this support system, the more I realize how awesome it is to have friends, who are moms, who are on the same page as me most of the time (at least about parenting...:)). Of course, we don't agree about everything, but how refreshing when you can bring your parenting mishaps, successes, and frights to the table, and you never worry about someone thinking negatively of you. You just know they've all been there, or will be there. And if not, they know you are doing your best, and whatever that is ... is fine.

I love you - you know who you are.