Tribe may be a buzzword these days, but I highly condone its overuse because of its importance to me. Moms and women in general need a “tribe” — a group of close friends that we can call at 4:00 a.m. with a problem, can laugh with until we pee a little (and we all get why…) and can trust with our deepest, sometimes most embarrassing secrets. Here’s how to identify your tribe and continue to nurture it.
Having a tribe goes wayyyy beyond chatting and laughing with the moms on campus or getting together with your husband’s colleagues and their wives. Tribes have no place for small talk and niceties. Interaction with my tribe consists of sending silly, sometimes (ahem usually) inappropriate, memes via group text, family vacations with all our kids who range in age from 1 to 11, and dedicated girl trips where just us moms escape the every day… if only for 48 hours or so.
Having a tribe starts with trust. Your true friends can get straight to the nitty gritty. We can get deep in and talk about the things that make us laugh or cry, depending on the situation. But you have to know that these talks are reserved just for the tribe — having the confidence that you can share anything with these girls is essential. That said, in return you also are responsible for guarding their personal shares with all your heart.
Mom tribes are also about the real deal. We make unexpected stop bys. We have the most casual get togethers where pjs are completely acceptable attire and sleepovers are just as much for the adults as they are for the kids. We drink too much (sometimes) and we stand by each other’s side when the going gets tough. We build each other up and get straight to the truth, even if its a hard pill to swallow. Mom tribes are not for the faint of heart. Once you’re in, you’re in for the long haul. Grab a glass… or a bottle and settle in.
Having a tribe also allows personal growth. In our particular tribe, we are all very similar in some ways… And oh-so-different in others. We respect each other for our differences, and are all the better for the impact we have on one another. In our case, one of our group loves out-of-the-box adventures that the rest of us would probably skip all together. But thanks to her adventurous spirit, we’ve all taken a step outside of our comfort zones — and had a total blast doing it!
True friendships are so important in every stage of life, but I feel blessed to have this tribe to lean on as I navigate motherhood… Because it takes a village and we truly are one. What characteristics do you look for in your mom tribe?
