Having a baby will change your life. You can often be so focused on getting the little darling out, (what? Out of where?), that the actual baby part can be a bit of a shock. You are responsible for keeping the tiny human alive when they are completely helpless. This is a huge responsibility but friends can really keep you going. I’ve compiled a list of the 6 friends all new Mums need.
This is not me, new baby me was a milk soaked, dressing gown clothed, weeping mess! 😀
The honest Mum:
Tells it like it is, poonamis and sleep deprived boob flashes, stitches and milk sprays galore. This friend makes you feel better about everything and you’ll either be thinking ‘me too!’ or ‘thank god that didn’t happen to me!’.
The Mum of older children:
This Mum has been there, done that. She has experienced every lump, bump, rash, phase and public temper tantrum going. And remembers it well. A big bonus is that her children are older and so she has her hands free for cuddles. She is also more then happy to hold your sweet, easy, compliant little baby and remember the ‘good old days’ before her little darlings started talking back, arguing and generally being incredibly loud and uncompliant. Never feel that you are taking advantage of this Mum when she offers to wind, rock, cuddle your baby for you so you can eat, she honestly doesn’t mind and you may just struggle to get your precious bundle back!
The Mum with the baby the exact same age:
This Mum is a very important friend to have as babies change so fast that even a month can make a big difference in where they are at. Chances are that they will feel equally out of their depth, exhausted, confused and sleep deprived as you and so won’t mind if you forget to text back or go to the wrong place to meet them.
The neurotic Mum:
This Mum panics about every little thing and is on first name terms with all the receptionists at the doctors. She will make you feel better about yourself because ‘at least you don’t panic like Carol’. She is also a good person to run any worries by because chances are, she will have researched the very problem in great depth already.
The organised Mum:
Although she may make you feel totally inadequate due to your inability to get just dressed every day, the organised Mum is a brilliant asset to any group, she will be the one to round up all your phone numbers and create the group chat, she’ll instigate meet ups, coordinate dates that everyone is free and find all the best places to go. She will probably also be the one to get the Dads involved as well, arranging evenings out and family Sundays.
The child free friend:
Ever so important. These friends are similar to Mum of older children in that they always have their hands free for a baby holding session but they also have amazing stories to tell you to keep you connected to life before babies. You will live vicariously through them until your child has grown up enough for you to be able to reclaim some semblance of a life. This will be when they are roughly around 18. 😉
The online friends:
There are more then one of these usually, a group that often forms on a forum in a ‘due in’ group where everyone compares pregnancy ailments and ‘getting the baby’ out techniques. It then moves to a facebook group and everyone will get closer and share more personal details until you realise you speak to these ladies more than anyone in real life. There is always someone else awake and ready to chat and having so many different view points means you get great advice. You may never meet some of these people in real life, but if you do, it’s like you have never been apart.
Haha what a fab post, made me chuckle. I would rather like an organised mum friend!
Nat.x
Absolutely nailed it. This list is perfect. You’re right x
I’m the child free friend! #bigpinklink
Yes, you’ve nailed this one. All these friends are so important. I’m the mum with older children but I remember how difficult it was looking after a newborn. I will always be ready to help out, but now that mine have grown I realise just how adorable the baby stage can be, so good luck in getting your baby back..hahaha!
The great thing is we can be all of them depending on where we’re at ourselves. I’m currently the mum with older child 🙂
I’m the older Mum I reckon! Lovely, lovely post! #bigpinklink
Ha Brilliant! I’ve never really thought about it before but you are totally right. That’s kind of happened too and I can think of someone for each category. Such an interesting post!! I think I would be the honest mum as more than happy to tell people ‘how it really is’ xx #bigpinklink
So true! These are really great and I love the inclusion of the child-free friend — so important!
Visiting from #bigpinklink
This is great! I’m missing the organised friend at the moment but definitely have some from the others. Not sure which one I am, maybe a mix of neurotic and honest?? Made me laugh anyway xx #bigpinklink
Oh I love a Carol. She makes me feel like I’m relaxed. Those without kids are so important too, they have so much energy for you. #BigPinkLink
I was the mum with older kids, but with a newborn in tow again I’m making it my mission to be the honest mum to my friends who are trying/first timers! Still haven’t found that organised mum friend yet though, we’re all scrambling in the dark!
#BigPinkLink
Hi, I loved reading this post, all of these friends are important and have different things to offer. I like the inclusion of the child free friend as well #bigpinklink
I love this!! So true, the one with children the same age is perfect and without the organised Mum I would completely forget all kind of important school notes! #bigpinklink
Yeeeeessssss! I think I can identify all of those 🙂
All of these friends help so much! They form a wonderful support network which is so important! #BigPinkLink
This is so true, especially the mum with older kids. We have a friend with one child a couple of years older than our oldest who is great at entertaining our youngest, a child the same age as our oldest and they disappear off upstairs to play computer games never to be seen again till home time and another about a year older than our youngest who likes to share her toys and give us hand-me-downs
Meant to add #bigpinklink
Haha I think I’m the honest mum. I probably wouldn’t put many gory thruths on my site, but I’d whisper them to a pregnant friend!
#bigpinklink
What a great list! I really only have number 6 right now.. well and the mom with older children in our babysitter.
I need to get on making some friends. haha.
Thanks for sharing!
Hah! I think I know at least one Mum from each category. The neurotic mum made me laugh. Yep, I know her and she does make me feel better! #BigPinkLink x
Love this! One of my best friends is a combination of the first two! I don’t think I know a neurotic mum…yet!! #bigpinklink
Loved this! Can I be in your group? I’ll be the mum with older children! I cant say I know much but Ive totally been there!
#Bigpinklink
Ha ha I love this! The child free friend was my saviour when mine were small! Also the older mum who had been there and done it! This is sich a fab post! #BigPinkLink
I don’t now what I’d have done without my new mum friends when I first had a baby. They’re so important and as you’ve pointed out brilliantly, a variety of different personalities is enriching! #BigPinkLink
You nailed it on all six! Brilliant and hilarious, the exact combo I enjoy in a post! <3 #BigPinkLink <3
Brilliant, love this, we all need a collection of these friends! I love my honest mums and my mums’ with older kids who are blazing a trail for me….as we hit secondary school. And love all my other mums too! #bigpinklink
I have one of each of these friends (that’s my entire friend list then, haha!) and can safely say you’ve hit the nail on the head! They are each as important to me as the other, but all for very different reasons. Just texting them all to say thanks for being the best!! #bigpinklink
Ok-I think I may have multiple personalities because I identify with almost all of these! Ha! But seriously, you’re so right! Especially about the older mom friends. I think I love them the most because they tell me to chill…it is very difficult for me to chill!!!
#bigpinklink
Brilliant!! I love my neurotic Mum friend, I think I’d be a total worry wart if it weren’t for her! And the Mum of Older Children, oh my goodness talk about lifesavers!! Thank you for being a most wonderful and super understanding co-host xx p.s I really love your new blog theme, it looks awesome!
Brilliant post. Yep, I have all of these friends and I couldn’t manage without them. My neurotic friend has always made me feel like i’m a super chilled Mum. I love her for that. Hugs Lucy xxxx Thank you for hosting the #bigpinklink. I’m sorry that it’s taken me this long to comment.