MOTHERS GROUP : BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Mothers group was a life-raft.

In the early months after baby, I gripped it tightly with both hands when I felt myself sinking.

Sure; the original ‘classes’ at the Maternal Health Centre were invaluable, but after my son projectile pooed (oh Lordy YES) all over the nurse on an initial home visit (cream slacks; what was she thinking!?), I don’t think I was the teacher’s pet.

But I had heard the Mothers Group whispers.

I was ready for ‘those’ mummies.

The ones who knew it all, had it all and could do it all.

I looked keenly around the room in that first session…trying to sniff out the one; the biatch mummy.

But she wasn’t there.

Rather, I saw a room full of bewildered first time mums…potential friends, even. We were all clutching our babies, whilst silently praying for no giant poo sprays or feeding disasters. Like me, I’m tipping their whole morning of ‘feed, play, sleep’ had been meticulously based around this 1 x 1 hour block ‘outing’. At some point over the next few months, we took turns to vent, cry and sigh, and more often than not, laugh out loud with each other.

Perhaps I was lucky, but these girls were awesome.

I was the sucker who planned the first independent catch-up away from the centre. Nervously, I suggested we might have a little tipple to celebrate this occasion. Imagine my great joy, when every mother arrived with a bottle of bubbles for our 11am play date. These were true stayers. Oh…and just a little tip…if you are transporting sparkling wine under your pram…on a bumpy footpath…it will fizz everywhere…including over your 4 month old baby.  As I welcomed the ladies with a “we survived Mothers Group” toast, the cork hit the tree tops and GOOD SPARKLING WAS WASTED! I nearly bent down and licked my child’s face (if only to hide my own red cheeks!).

As the months and years have gone by, sadly I am still only in regular contact with a few. People have moved away, others have returned to demanding careers, more children have arrived and…well…life moves on.

But it’s for the following reasons I so loved my MUGS (Mother User Group).

Here is a short series of shared SMS’s we have exchanged at different times over the past few years.

On birthday parties : (they sooo get me!)

Or this :

On the conclusion of arvo sleeps : (she explains this mourning period perfectly)

On the suggestion of a SAHM Barbie : ( Sure…sometimes we go off on tangents…)

On craft and g…gl…gli.. (be brave, Anna, just say it) GLITTER :

On toilet training :      

And so it seems I cracked it.

These women are normal and making up this mummy caper each day, just like I am.

I won the MUGS lottery.

Lovely life friends were made who totally ‘get’ it and are on the other end of the phone with encouragement, wine tips & laughter when required.

That smile you gave me? That invite to the park to get us out of the house? That chocolate cake you offered when it seemed the winter would never end? That cheeky arvo wine when I thought I would never sleep again? The texts when I was feeling flat? Watching our little ones hit their various milestones around the same time?
Invaluable.
You all pulled me back up on that life raft and that bond is forever special.