Perspective from East Coast Mom, Melissa:
And this is us, about 20 years ago, getting ready to go to
our friend Cathy’s Sweet Sixteen. The 90’s were rough, weren’t
they? I mean, the 80’s were definitely rougher, but the 90’s? Still rough. My
mom bought me that dress at TJ Maxx. I can still see the red clearance $15
ticket on it. I’m not sure where she thought I was going to wear this dress,
but she was happy I got one use out of it. (At least we are fully clothed, though. Have you seen teenagers lately? They look like they are 30. I can't imagine them wearing anything remotely like this to a Sweet Sixteen today...waayy too much clothing.)
Our friendship actually started way earlier than this photo.
It was 1985. My family had just to moved to a different section of town, which
meant I had to change schools in the 4th grade. Devastating news for a 9 year old. I thought
my life was over. Then, one day, while sitting in my new room, the doorbell
rang. I heard my mom answer the door, and then, this: “My mom told me to come
over and say hello.” And just like that, I had a new friend named Kelly. And while
I’m sure her mom forced her to come over and do a “proper introduction”-I’m
sure glad she did. We’ve witnessed many big
and small events in each other’s lives since that summer day in ’85. We walked
to the mall with our saved up babysitting money to buy a Caboodle. We survived
bad haircuts, broken hearts, and Prom drama together. Spent a summer away from
home in Spain, before leaving for college in PA and NC, but kept in touch with
letters (yes, actual, hand written letters. Imagine that!)
Fast forward years later, and we were in each other’s
weddings; Kelly home from the Peace Corps in Guatemala to attend mine, and me 3
months post-pardum-trying-to-fit-into-a-bridesmaids-dress to attend hers.
Through all of that, I think the highlight for both of us: Now we are both
moms, with 2 kids each. And while visits are sparse, and months can go by
without talking (I think the last time we actually spoke on the phone was
before her youngest was born, and she’s already 11 months old! I know little old
ladies are always warning us in the grocery store that it goes by fast, but
seriously, where does the time go?! ) Luckily, thanks to Facebook, email,
texting and our newest social media obsession Pinterest, we’re still great
friends with a lot to cyber- chat about.
So we hope you follow along with us! Like you, we’re 2 moms
just trying to get by…raising our kids, working a little, making healthy meals,
and most importantly, making sure everyone is happy, loved, and having fun.
Perspective from West Coast Mom, Kelly:
If I remember correctly, those overalls were way too short…pretty sure they were Melissa's and I, as usual, was scraping together a Halloween costume last minute. It's a bad costume, but last year's pregnant soccer player was worse (mostly because it made no sense, it's just what fit). People were driving themselves crazy trying to figure out the joke. Nope, there wasn't one.
As a little kid, I was always one to get super excited about "the new kid." My mom had met our new neighbors and erroneously told me that Melissa was in my grade. I was hugely bummed to find out she was a year older. I remember thinking, while pouting of course, "oh well, guess we won't be friends, but I'll go over and meet them anyway." So glad I was wrong! Melissa has been a best friend and big sister to me ever since. She always stood by me, encouraged me, and even stayed my friend during middle school when things were ROUGH and my social awkwardness and bad hair reached an all-time high. By watching her go through the major life changes-- college, career, wedding, marriage, children-- first, I've always learned from how she's handled each situation. I even laugh at myself trying to give her advice about her two-year old because it was something my friend said about her own two-year old. And now I have a two-year old. I'm shocked, and relieved, she didn't tell me to shut up. I even think it had to do with TV watching.
As a mom of a baby and a toddler, you will find that I am woefully out of touch with the national conversation and trends. Having lived out of the country, in Oklahoma for some time, and on the teeny tiny Hawaiian island of Kaua'i, has allowed for some major gaps in my "life-before-children" social knowledge. Once babies entered the picture, my gaps became even larger (psst: I haven't updated my iPod in 7 years). For example, I actually said as recently as December: "who needs an iPad? it just doesn't make sense for my lifestyle." My mother-in-law bought me one and showed me how to use it. This was a life-changing day for my husband and I. Not because the iPad is amazing, but because his 63 year-old mother had to smack us in the face to get us up to date with technology. Which led me to find Pinterest…which led us all to this blog.
So this blog is just Melissa and myself, trying to keep in touch, up-to-date, and to figuring a whole bunch of things out: from kids and family, to careers and balancing, and navigating the social media world. Lucky to have grown up next door to each other, even luckier to have stayed close friends through so many changes. If you're lucky, maybe we'll share some of those letters and bad haircuts…or maybe not.
As a little kid, I was always one to get super excited about "the new kid." My mom had met our new neighbors and erroneously told me that Melissa was in my grade. I was hugely bummed to find out she was a year older. I remember thinking, while pouting of course, "oh well, guess we won't be friends, but I'll go over and meet them anyway." So glad I was wrong! Melissa has been a best friend and big sister to me ever since. She always stood by me, encouraged me, and even stayed my friend during middle school when things were ROUGH and my social awkwardness and bad hair reached an all-time high. By watching her go through the major life changes-- college, career, wedding, marriage, children-- first, I've always learned from how she's handled each situation. I even laugh at myself trying to give her advice about her two-year old because it was something my friend said about her own two-year old. And now I have a two-year old. I'm shocked, and relieved, she didn't tell me to shut up. I even think it had to do with TV watching.
As a mom of a baby and a toddler, you will find that I am woefully out of touch with the national conversation and trends. Having lived out of the country, in Oklahoma for some time, and on the teeny tiny Hawaiian island of Kaua'i, has allowed for some major gaps in my "life-before-children" social knowledge. Once babies entered the picture, my gaps became even larger (psst: I haven't updated my iPod in 7 years). For example, I actually said as recently as December: "who needs an iPad? it just doesn't make sense for my lifestyle." My mother-in-law bought me one and showed me how to use it. This was a life-changing day for my husband and I. Not because the iPad is amazing, but because his 63 year-old mother had to smack us in the face to get us up to date with technology. Which led me to find Pinterest…which led us all to this blog.
So this blog is just Melissa and myself, trying to keep in touch, up-to-date, and to figuring a whole bunch of things out: from kids and family, to careers and balancing, and navigating the social media world. Lucky to have grown up next door to each other, even luckier to have stayed close friends through so many changes. If you're lucky, maybe we'll share some of those letters and bad haircuts…or maybe not.
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