Friday, March 5, 2010

Do You Have One?

If you don't you should.

Wondering what I am talking about?

Me and Wendy
April 2005

A friend like Wendy!

We have known each other since we were 11 years old. We are talking 25 years here.

She is more like a sister than a friend.

She is the friend I can call up and just be myself---the good, the bad and the oh-so-very-ugly.

Take today for instance. She called me today to see if I wanted to come over with the kids. Both sets of kids definitely have cabin fever and are sick of being stuck in the house. I would have loved to jump at the opportunity to spend the afternoon chillin' at her house while all the kids played, BUT Nicholas vomited yet again today (everyone except my oldest has been sick). I wasn't bringing him out and the last thing she needs is for her family to get sick. So with a sad heart I had to say no. We were ALL disappointed (me and her as much as the kids).

As we talked on the phone you can sense the frustration we were both having with the kids (it happens sometimes). I have been dealing with someone being sick for a week now. Today I had baby still vomiting, 1 child who kept getting themselves in trouble with one bad decision after another, 2 that had ants-in-the-pants, and a toddler who kept grabbing a small electric keyboard and insisted on playing "beautiful music". Bedtime couldn't come fast enough---and it was only 11:30 in the morning!!!

After Chris came home another friend contacted me. We needed to meet up so I could give her products she order from a Wild Tree party I had 3 weeks ago. I couldn't get out the door fast enough when she suggested we met at Target since she doesn't know where I live and she needed to go there anyway. So with Chris' blessing, off to Target I went.

Oh, how I love Target. I call it my "Happy Place". I can just walk around there for hours looking at this and that. During the week the store is (usually) very quiet. On my way I called Wendy and told her I escaped and I was on my way to Target. She too calls it her "happy place".

I met my friend, had small talk for a few minutes and then went our separate ways. I hit Starbucks and began to decompress as I strolled the aisles of my favorite store. I was just about ready to leave when the phone rang....it was Wendy wondering if I was still at Target. She was on her way to escape.

I met her at the front entrance. She too made a B-line for Starbucks when she got there (sound familiar). We spent the next hour (or two) walking around Target talking "mommy".

We were able to share our frustrations with each other without having to worry about being judged.

We were able to give words of advice and encouragement to each other knowing we only want to see the best for the other and their family.

We laughed...boy did we laugh : )

And I would have to say, when I was ready to leave Target and return home to my family I was a better person, in a better place than when I left my door. I was able to come home fresh and enjoy the rest of the night with the kids. They even got to stay up later than their bedtimes to play WII. All the same "frustrations" were at my house after I went to Target as before, but because I took a little time to get away and enjoy another grown-ups company I was able to handle it all much better.

So Thanks Wendy! Thanks for being a great friend and someone I can just be myself with!!

So what about you? Do you have a Wendy?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

It's great to have a very good friend. It's been a long time since I had that experience.
My good buddies all live very far.