My GO TO Girl

So, I have a girl - a "go to" girl. A girl who can answer any, every, all crazy things I throw at her (or at least she's that good that I don't realize it if she can't).

We met 15 years ago in college (and yes I know it is hard to believe that I could be old enough to have a college friend for that long, I use great skincare) and I can't remember a time when I didn't think she was the coolest thing ever. Then, in college that is, she made good grades, was a role model at work and had plans. You know, she knew where she was going to be, who it would be with and how to get there.

She is a teeny bit older than me, so she went through all the milestones before me...marriage, first house, kiddos. I got to experience all that vicariously for a while (awwww, yes, I would love to hold Jackson, he's the cutest thing ever, uh, why does he cry so much and are they all like that?) and then I got my own (husband, house and kiddos).

She wasn't just a work role model or a smart chic anymore. She was a MOM. A mom before me. A wife before me. She had a double stroller and an SUV. And she's my mentor.

She's the one who can straight up tell me that my two year old is running my household and that it has to stop NOW (and put the book to help me in the mail the next day to get me started). She empathizes with my struggles with my younger daughter (who she swears is really a middle child without a younger sibling). She was proud of me for sharing my faith story with MOPS a couple of years ago (and I'm Catholic...there's no Catholic testimony girls). In fact, she encouraged me to join MOPS - a part of my life for the past five years that I cannot even imagine surviving motherhood without.

Here's the thing about having a mentor mom...you gotta admit you aren't perfect. You can't be afraid to ask advice, you can't be ashamed of your failures. I'm sure even my mentor mom has her moments (although I venture to guess they are spaced a little further apart than mine). And I am sure all the super moms out there have someone they call when they can't take it anymore.

This week's meeting will have our mentor mom panel. My mentor will be there (she's the one with the skinny butt and good hair...just kidding!...but she really does have good hair and she is thin) and I'm sure you'll have some lovely piece of wisdom to take home to your families (or you'll at least get a good laugh).

If you have a mentor mom...let her know how much she means to you. If you need one, don't be afraid to ask for help. Let's get sentimental here - what have you learned from your mentor mom?

Dani