We’ve all heard it: “You’re such a mom.” Whether it was directed toward you, your friend, or you’re the one that said it, “You’re such a mom” is nothing short of a common phrase these days. I’ve been “the mom friend” (though I prefer to think of myself as more of “the cool aunt friend”) and I definitely have my share of friends who assume this role as well. I’m here to tell you, “the mom friend” is the best friend you could ever have.
Moms are by no means nonexistent in college (I call mine at least three times a week—no shame) but they aren’t always right by your side to look out for you. That’s where the mom friend comes in: she rubs your back and brings you food when you’re sick, she keeps an eye out for your whole group on those wild weekend adventures, and she probably tells lame mom jokes (and thinks they’re absolutely hilarious, even when they aren’t). She helps you get home after a long night, and chances are she checks up on you the next morning.
Having a friend like this is so important—you know she’ll always have your back. She motivates you to clean your room and do your homework, while simultaneously feeding your wine habit and distracting you with HGTV. She has a giant purse with anything and everything you could ever need: snacks, Advil, nail clippers, gum—you need it? She has it. Chances are she yells at you if you text and drive, and she won’t move her car until everyone is buckled in. “The mom friend” pushes you to be better and have fun while doing it.
But perhaps the most important thing “the mom friend” does is call you out when it's necessary. She stops you if you’ve had too much to drink, she tells you when your snarky comments are too much, and she definitely calls you out when you’ve ignored your responsibilities for too long and binge watched an entire season of Netflix in a day. It may suck at the time, and you may even get upset, but you know it’s for the best and she only does it because she cares about you. There comes a point when her maternal instincts kick in and she has to ground you (no pun intended).
Everyone needs this friend in their life; who knows where any of us would be without them. So shout out to all the mom friends out there. You make the world go ‘round and we’re all beyond lucky to have you. Thanks for keeping it together when the rest of us can’t.
