Raising kids is hard work and we, as Mothers, all need a break from time to time, and there is no better person to lean on than a fellow Mom! I will often get a text on the weekend from a couple of friends, whose kids are the same age as mine, to see if we’re free for a visit. Sure it’s a chance for the kiddos to get together and play outside of school, but this is also an opportunity for a “Mommy Playdate” as well! Mom friends are important for a number of reasons.

Our get together usually consist of just coffee or tea (sometimes a cocktail or glass of wine) and some good, honest, nonjudgmental chitchat! My two go-to venting buddies are very similar in personality to myself.  So there’s quite a bit of swearing, over-sharing, and no-holds-barred confessions about – pretty well all aspects of our lives.

Since our children are all roughly the same age, the three of us are on the same page in regard to child-rearing stages.  We’re all about the same age ourselves and are going through similar life stages together.

This is one of the cheapest and simplest forms of therapy you can find.

Releasing all worries, challenges, fears, and joys with another whose already gone through what you have or will be in the future can take a huge weight off your shoulders. Odds are, these lovely ladies will have some friendly advise for what you may be experiencing as a parent and, likewise, you may have some kind words for her motherly woes in return.

Self-care is very important for Mothers, and parents in general, because if one is not looking out for themselves than how can one be expected to be there for their family.

Recipe Post: Goulash

While on vacation this past summer I met a couple of Moms that I instantly connected with.  Our kids immediately clicked and all played together for the week, we took turns having each others kids over to our cottage for a little play, and we supervised all the children while another parent was getting a snack or running to tending to another child. We all worked together to make one another’s vacation a little easier and enjoyable.

None of us had met before this week, but it was second-nature to just jump in.

Moms need to work together and lift one another up – instead of ripping each other to shreds! There is so much competition when it comes to motherhood – breast-feeding, eating clean and organic, screen time, how we punish our kids, and what organized sports we get our kids into.

They say “it takes a village” to raise kids and I am 100% in agreement with that statement.

So, the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, arrange a playdate with a fellow Mom.  Support each other through your trying times.