Other moms

I got invited to join a group. I've been part of moms groups before. When Diane was little, I joined a group of breastfeeding mothers at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence. When the children were very small there was a breastfeeding supoort person from the hospital there to answer our questions. As the children got older, we moved to a different location and then finally realized that it was time to start rotating around to each other's houses because the kids were outgrowing the space and needed room to run around. We shared a special time together. These women and children define, in such a specific way, that part of my life. We went our seperate ways to some extent, some of the women staying in touch. Others of us losing track of each other through the years. We had a wonderful reunion of many of us last summer. It was amazing to see how the kids had grown and how instantly we picked back up. Lots of us are still in touch via facebook- the wonders of social networking.

The new moms group I was asked to join meets once a month. I feel blessed to have been asked, it's a wonderful group of women, and I instantly felt a kinship with them. They are all moms of special needs children. Instead of talking about plugged ducts and how much cereal our babies were eating, I was with women who instantly understood my angst at having Liam written up on the bus for his tic. I felt as though I could vent to them in a way I hadn't to anyone else about that event in our life. About how furious I was, and upset for him. There were five us total, and four of us were from the same town. For me this was such a pleasure. While the parents of the other kids in my TS group may understand what Liam's going through with his TS, these moms understood the school system that I've been working with much better. It was so nice to have other moms to talk to about the school in this way. They instantly understood my logistic concern for Liam when he enters middle school next year. Where will he be able to go to tic without feeling uncomfortable? Currently he's able to get outside easily, at the middle school he won't be able to. The talk of meds and services and sensory issues swirled around in such a comfortable way.

Today I'm feeling thankful for all of the supportive moms I know out there.