My SON, My New BESTFRIEND

When I gave birth, I didn't realize that I was immediately gaining a best friend, side kick, companion, and shadow. Prior to becoming a mommy, I would often make late night trips to Wal-Mart or to grab something quick to eat. Now going to Wal-Mart took planning and preparation. It was almost like I was preparing to go to war. I would have to pack a bag because anything may happen while in the store. To make matters worse, I would have to make a list of the things I needed. In the past, I enjoyed just roaming through the store aisle to aisle, eventually getting the things I needed. Now, I was on a mission and needed that list. Plus, the list helped with "mommy brain". If you are not familiar with "mommy brain", it is a condition that causes mothers to forget any and everything that is not pertaining to the "baby" or "child". It also results in you thinking about your child or children obsessively.

It wasn't until last night that I realized that I had a new best friend. That new best friend wasn't someone my own age. My new best friend was much younger. My new best friend was clingy and demanded most of my time. My new best friend was my son, and he was attached at the hip. Instead of doing "adult things", I began to find fun in playing at the park, playing with toys, and sometimes even playing in the dirt. At the age 26, I have been forced to watch tons of Mickey Mouse Club House, Slide on a slide for kids ages 2-7, Pre-tend play, take bubble baths with rubber ducks, and much more. My new best friend is very selfish. He doesn't care that mommy is tired, or wants some girls time, or is too big to swing on the swing set. My new best friend doesn't care about my age or size. He only knows that he loves his mommy and his mommy is supposed to play with him.

Well, I didn't think about this until last night. I was getting dolled up to have a "girls night" with my line sisters. Guess who wasn't having it? My new best friend. He came in the bathroom where I was curling my hair and asked, "where we going ma?" I responded, "I'm going with my friends." He said, you don't got no friends ma." I responded, I do have friends. He said, let me go mommy. I said, no baby, mommy's having a girl's night. He cried as I got dressed, and said "mommy don't leave me." On the drive to my destination, my heart was a little troubled. Not because I didn't think he was safe, but because I was leaving my best friend.

My son made a great point. YES, I do have friends, but he had become my new best friend. We were together all of the time. There were very few occasions that I left him behind. Becoming a mommy had changed me. I no longer had days that I could lay in bed all day and do nothing, or get up and run out the door without planning and preparing. Now, I had someone else that I always had to worry about. I had a side kick, a mini me, a partner in crime, a ride or die, and a shadow. My life was now consumed with making my little guy happy. I needed the girl time, but I have to admit he was on my mind heavily. (I even called and texted his dad to check on him, only to get the response I got this). When I returned the house was a train wreck, and he had fallen asleep. I couldn't help waking him to tell him that I had returned. He wrapped his little arms around my neck and quickly dozed off again. I put him in bed and snuggled him tight. I couldn't help but smile because I have the most amazing BEST FRIEND!!!!!