Every Young Mom Should Have an Experienced Mom Friend like Mine

Anyone who has experienced pregnancy, or even knows someone who has, is aware of the toll it can take on a body. Even in the best scenario, pregnancy is hard. I have scoliosis, a curved spine. This makes pregnancy a bit harder on me than it might otherwise be. I and my babies were never in any danger while I carried each of them. I just had extremely debilitating back pain that got worse with each pregnancy.

I was fairly new at the church I attend when I became pregnant for the fourth (and last) time. At this church there are many young families like ours, with at least a couple kids. One woman was a mother of five grown kids, who I'll call Noelle, decided I needed her for some reason. She began checking on me after church, calling to see how the morning sickness was, just being a caring person. I hadn't told anyone how bad I was hurting, because I didn't want to be seen as weak or incapable.

When I wound up in the hospital with strained stomach muscles and round ligaments, Noelle found out. She was mad! She informed me that I wasn't doing anyone any favors by denying my church family the chance to show me how much they love me. She lectured me about the sin of pride, for being too proud to ask for help. And then she threatened to sit on me if I didn't let her help me with the things I was no longer allowed to do! I acquiesced, and she began to come over twice a week to clean my house for me and visit with me for the rest of my pregnancy. We became such close friends that she was with me when I delivered my beautiful baby girl, and she is now the closest friend I've ever had. She tells me when I'm screwing up, and tells me when I'm doing something right, and listens when I need an ear. Everyone should have a mommy friend who's "been there, done that".