Along our motherhood journey, we meet a lot of other mums.
Some of these mums will be casual acquaintances that we smile at in passing on the school run or stand next to cheering on the sideline of our child’s sporting match.
Some we will share a coffee and a chat with as our children play together, our friendship end-dated by the friendship of our children.
But there will be a special few. A handful of ladies who we connect with on a deeper level. These friendships will probably outlast that of our children.
These women are an important part of our tribe. Drawn together by our children but linked by something inexplicable, the women in your mum tribe are probably a diverse lot.
There are a lot of stereotypes out there and I’m not usually one for labels, but I believe we all bring something to the party and we can learn so much from each other.
Here are five mummas you definitely want in your tribe:
The Fixer Mum.
This mum has the answer to everything and if she doesn’t, she knows someone who does. She carries an arsenal of life saving items in her handbag, including a first aid kit, rain poncho and a multi-tool. She’s definitely the mum you want by your side when you have a costume malfunction just before the Book Week parade. No doubt she’ll have the safety pins and electrical tape to avert every possible disaster.
The Earth Mum.
She doesn’t necessarily need to be a full-blown hippy or a complete “Crunchy Mum”, but is probably into into eating clean or going green and getting back to nature. This mum has so much to offer in terms of raising our awareness and that of our children. She can teach us a lot.
The Healthy Mum.
A mum who’s healthy and fit but not in an in-your-face-look-at-my-Lorna-Jane-active-wear kinda way. This mum prioritises her health and is all about being the best version of herself. She’s more than a bit inspiring.
The Natural Born Mum.
A nurturer who seems to look after everyone else’s kids just as much as her own, this mum makes you wish she’d adopt you. She’s got boundless patience, the heart of a saint and blood worth bottling. This mum is a great support person and is always there to lend a hand with your kids.
The Just-Like-You Mum.
This mum gets you. You probably have similar parenting styles, lifestyles and a good understanding of what makes each other tick. She validates your feelings towards motherhood and is a great person to debrief with.
Obviously, these “types” are generalisations as we all possess different elements of each. The point is, you need to surround yourself with people who add value to your experience of motherhood. Women who inspire you, validate you and help you out.
Having a tribe of mums who have each other’s back is a lifesaver when you are in the trenches of motherhood. Someone you can call to help out on the school run when you are in a bind, someone you can swap horror stories with, compare sleep deprivation with and someone to remind you why you are doing it all in the first place.
Mum friends rock.
