No vacancy for more friends

I have enough friends. The quota is full.

That's what I tell myself. I can barely keep in touch with the ones I have. But I continue to pick up one or two new people as I go.

It's not that I'm worth being friends with. It's that I really like people and I like to keep them around. For different reasons they entertain me, make me feel good or are someone I aspire to be. Mostly though they entertain me.

Just before joining my allocated mother's group I went through the same mantra, coupled with 'it's like high school, you get thrown in with a bunch of people who are probably nothing like you, or they're exactly like you and you'll hate them'. I went along to get out of the house.

Bugger. After five weeks of the structured sessions with the Child Health Nurse I started to like them.

My new found besties (minus Kate and the twins)

Bugger again as we kept catching up and I realised I really like them.

After a group Christmas photo shoot with the lovely and talented Chelsea Woodbridge Photography, it was cemented. I had eight new friends, plus their bubs.

Despite my initial hesitancy, I do think the mother's group system is a good one.

For those that think like me, rethink your point of view. You meet others on your local area going through exactly what you're going through. You can talk candidly about what's going on and hopefully you have a group of understanding women who can share their tips and tricks. Plus it does get you out of the house.

In saying that, women are our own worst enemies. We are quick to judge, cut other women down and we love to compete with each other. Bring children I to it and we get worse. Just watch Dance Moms.

Getting a group of female strangers together could be a recipe for disaster. And I'm sure there are mothers groups out there that are toxic or didn't work.

I'm lucky, after six months we've had a good run. Don't worry it's not all rainbows. And I'm sure dynamics will change as we go off to work or have more bub's or get to know our dirty secrets more.

Obviously, this is my point of view. Maybe I'm being naive, or blind, or too cheery blossom nice about it. Maybe there are under currents of dislike in the group I'm not aware of. Maybe it's directed at me.

Ekk... I guess ignorance really is bliss.

Oh well. For now in my La La Land they are eight new friends to add to my list.