I am sure that when you think of a person who reminds you of your mom or a mom figure in your friend group, one singular face appears in your mind. Well, I am that face and figure for my friends. I am the figure that holds the qualities of a mom, and when they need advice, someone to vent to, to calm them down or if they just need a “mom” hug, they come to me.
Now I know that this may sound like a regular friend, but it's more than that. People come to you in their most vulnerable states, only a state that they would go to their mom for. Now with being the mom figure comes a lot of tasks and responsibilities. It is a heroic title but with that comes some things you need to know.
First, there is no sleeping. Your friends already come to you to hang out, but when you are the mom, they need you for homework help, what to wear the next day and just to talk about how their day was. Also, they just want you to be around to hang out! So be prepared for lots of coffee and endless bags under your eyes.
Second, you need to be able to tell your friends the truth even if it is hard to hear. You will have friends who continue to do things that are not healthy for them and you need to be the one to tell them that. You need to tell them how special and important they are and how they deserve all the happiness in the world. Your job is to keep them safe, whether that be from relationships, having too much fun on the weekends or just generally being safe. They see you care about them and they appreciate that.
And lastly, you need to have fun. Although being the mom means that you must keep others safe and that you are the responsible one, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun. You are also their friend. They come to you with their problems and rely on you, but when it comes down to it you are the closest friend that they have. You are the one who knows all their secrets, keeps them sane and yet can still go out and have fun with them on weekends.
The mom of the friend group may sound like a burden, but it has been my greatest title that I have held in life. It has brought me so many close friends, ones who you can trust and they can trust you back. It has taught me some life lessons along the way and that you need to hold yourself accountable because someone is counting on you. This title can get tiring and can be a lot when you are the mom to 70 other sorority women, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want to trade being the mom of the friend group for anything. It may seem like a burden but you are the most important asset to the friend group. So, to all you “moms” out there, keep doing the great things you’re doing; they don’t go unnoticed and your friends appreciate you so much.
Sincerely,
Mom
