Blog Friend Feature: In the Trenches of Mommyhood

This week's Blog Friend Feature is one that I met in my early days of blogging. I felt an instant connection with her because she has three boys who are spaced about the same as mine are... only hers are a little older than mine. So, I read her blog and thought ohmygod, I can actually survive this.

Please welcome Sarah from In the Trenches of Mommyhood:

Hi everyone!  I'm very happy to be here.  Shell and I connected in the blogosphere what seems like AGES ago because we both have 3 boys.  It was so lovely to finally meet her in person and to realize that blog friends are indeed real!

You probably think, since I do have three boys, that I'm going to blabber on and on about my life with them.  But nope.  I do that enough on my own blog!  One can only discuss boogers, bodily functions, and names for boy parts (think "Moooommm, he hit me in the weens!") for so long.

Instead, I'm going to talk about friends.  Not blog friends, like Shell and me. But neighborhood friends.  Town friends.  And how hard it is for me to make new friends. 

*****

August 1 is a big date in my Trenches. 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!

Yup.  The start of Pop Warner football season.  And with 3 sports-loving boys, I am DOOMED for a life of bleacher-butt.  This year, for the first time, all 3 boys are playing on separate teams.  And to complicate matters further, my Hubby is coaching Middle's team.

(I can already FEEL the splinters in my butt.)

With football season comes...forced socialization.  My biggest dread.  I am (admittedly) antisocial in person.  I have a hard time warming up to people. I make snap judgments.  My thoughts about others are NOT kind.

In short?  I'm kind of a bitch.

The forced small talk, the fake praising of each others' children, the negotiating of the snack schedule...shoot me now.

So I had been dreading the start of football practice.

Since Eldest is very comfortable with his team and coaches that he's been with for 5 years now, and Hubby is coaching Middle, I knew I would find myself sitting at Baby's practice.  I also knew that I wouldn't be familiar with any of the parents.

(I do, actually, despite my self-proclaimed bitchiness, have other football mom friends whom I see at the field every day.  Just none whose children are on Baby's team.)

My stomach felt sick.  Should I sit alone and not make eye contact, or should I at least try to be social?

Thankfully, all that was solved for me.  Another mother I already knew was standing at the practice.  With another woman I didn't know.

She introduced us.  I was already prepared to not like this New Mom.  She was blonde, thin, young, and stylish.

After a few moments of (the dreaded) small-talk, we realized that we actually live in the same neighborhood!  And that our soon-to-be-first-grade sons are friends!  Who shared a seat on the bus together all last year!

We both watch bad reality tv! 

We both hate watching other peoples' children play sports!

We both are sarcastic!

We both like to make fun of other people!

We both are mothers of all boys!

We both are working moms!

I instantly felt a connection.  A feeling of  "Yep, she's someone I'd definitely hang out with."  And now, a few practices in, we've been stuck like like glue to each other, laughing, joking and chatting.

(Which, for me?  Is huDge.  Just ask my current football mom friends.  It seriously took me 2 entire football seasons before I even attempted to be social.  And now? I can't imagine my life without these women in it.)

So cheers to branching out.  To swallowing the urge to hibernate and retreat inward.   To taking the plunge, swallowing your nerves, and just making an effort.

You never know who you will meet!

I so need this advice, since soccer is starting and well, Sarah and I are very much alike! Please leave her some comment love here and then go follow In the Trenches of Mommyhood!