What is Keeping Moms from Real Friendship?

Moms just want community. There are so many blog posts and articles all over the Internet that explain how desperately moms need to know that they are loved, cared for, understood, and not alone. If, as moms, we clearly need this, and we are all asking for it, then why do we still feel alone most days? Why are there still so many posts in different mom groups online asking if they are alone in different situations of everyday motherhood? If we all want the same thing, why are so many mothers still saying that they wish they had friends or a genuine sisterhood?

Something is not adding up to me.

I’m thinking that most of us are scared. Maybe we all haven’t processed rejection or the ending of friendships in the past and we are scared to try again. Friendship is hard as a mom. Your kids can grow to love your friend, too, and if you aren’t friends anymore for whatever reason, it may be difficult to explain why one of their favorite people doesn’t come around anymore. Forming deep friendships takes risks sometimes and as much as we may crave sisterhood, it requires an openness that we may not be ready for. Goodness, this really sounds like dating.

But can I encourage you to take a step towards genuine friendship as we start a new year? Motherhood is so challenging. It stretches you daily in ways you did not expect. Motherhood is not bad, but it is important, it is work, and we all need support. We don’t have to share every single detail about our family in order to start genuine relationships. Someone just needs to know that they can be themselves when you are around. We don’t always have to carry a fake smile when life is heavy. Be the person to others that you need on your best and worst days. Sisterhood is waiting on the other side of fear.