Last week, I came across this article and while on my run, I thought about the author’s perspective and how mine differs.
I know nothing about feeding schedules. Or how it feels to spend time and energy making a meal only to have your child refuse to eat it. I have never experienced mastitis or had to worry about a leaking bladder due to pelvic floor issues after giving birth. Or juggling multiple to-do lists, school pick-up and drop-offs, while also making sure the dog gets walked and there’s clean laundry.
But I do know about loneliness. The solo exhaustion of making all the decisions, all the time. Funding 100% of living expenses, groceries, and travel. Driving and navigating to places without having the luxury of just relaxing in the passenger’s seat and choosing the playlist for the trip. Listening while well-intentioned people say, “You just need to get out there more,” and “Have you tried the apps?”
I believe it’s possible for women to stay friends even when they’re on completely different life paths. Stay open. Don’t write each other off. Be brave enough to share the light and the shadows. Share pics and stories. Celebrate first steps and first dates. We’re all running this race of life together, so we might as well be each other’s cheering squad.