From coffees to cocktails

At the time I got pregnant, only one of my friend’s had had a baby. And she lives several hours from me. So I knew that maternity leave would quickly turn into a very lonely time if I didn’t make an effort to get out and meet people. Luckily the town that I live in has a fantastic Breastfeeding Support Group. And every Wednesday morning, starting when Little Man was just 6 days old, I made my way down to this group. The hour long support group was followed by an hour of coffees and pastries in the local hotel. In the beginning I went for the support, but after a while, I just went for the coffee! I even continued to go to the group for about two months after I had weaned Little Man.

It was a wonderful way to get to know other mothers in my area. And when I went back to work, I continued to meet most of those mothers and their babies for coffee when I could. It’s so important to have people nearby who are in a similar situation to you. People who’ll understand if you show up with your top unbuttoned since the last feed, or with baby spew on your shoulder. People who’ll sympathise with your stories of sleepless nights. And people who’ll be just as excited as you are when you announce that your Little One just crawled, or walked, or talked.

Over coffees and through Facebook, our little group has expanded in this past year. At Halloween, one of the Mammies threw a wonderful baby Halloween party at which there must have been 10-15 adorable costumed babies.

And now tonight, we’re having our first annual Mammies Christmas party. And I can’t wait! The last time we had a night out, away from the babies, it seemed as though everyone was just talking for the first hour – and maybe we all were. It’s so unusual for us to get together and actually be able to finish our sentences to each other without having to stop midway through to pick someone’s box of raisins off the floor!

So Happy Christmas to all the wonderful Mammies out there! And here’s to a great night!