Sometimes when we look back to our journey in certain relationships, a thought that occurs is, “We have come such a long way in our relationship, in terms of strength in the relationship over so many years.” This was one such relationship.

We began our relationship in pairs or in threes and this went on for quite some years. We maintained touch within the little groups that we were in, thru our landline because mobiles weren’t really the trend. Whats app therefore wasn’t in the radar at all. We may have met each other sometimes at school and rarely met outside of school.

What did we talk about when we met at school or over the phone?

– What was covered in the class

– Any worksheets given

– Classwork, if not copied

– Homework, if what is to be done wasn’t clear

– Sleepovers etc etc

What did we meet for at school? What else for but PTM’s..:-)

Who are the ‘we’? ‘We’ are the moms.

Moms? of whom?

Moms of a group of teenagers who called themselves ‘Us the Seven’. These teenagers were so instrumental in creating a relationship not just amongst themselves but also for the moms to build a relationship amongst themselves. One of the better things they did 🙂

Years passed and mobiles became the trend and whats app was the best platform to be in. The boys had their whats app group and we had ours – ‘Us the seven moms’. The purpose of our group? Well, up for anybody’s guess.

What about ‘Us the seven dads’? Well, they were as busy with themselves and their work as much as we were with our boys and our homes. No groups they formed – in parts or as a whole!!

‘Us the seven moms’ – at times we conversed on the whats app group, we met at festivals and functions and the icing on the cake was when we met once at one of our houses. We the moms, gathered inside the house to discuss about how to engage with our ‘teenage seven’ and the boys waited outside the house (their choice to) with their own rant of how not needed this meeting was and how lucky one of them was that neither he nor his mother could come that day :-).. and of course one of their main points of discussion was how the mothers spent much money on themselves and they were told not to spend (if my memory serves right). Even now when I think about it, this scene brings a big smile in me 🙂

As the boys grew, so did we – chronologically and emotionally. They went on to study in different schools for their senior secondary boards and thereon under graduation, post graduation and employment. Their circle extended from ‘Us the seven’ to a larger group of friends but stayed tight knit.

Our ‘us the seven moms’ group remained more or less the same, though we met the extended group mothers sporadically. We lost one of the seven moms but the group continued to remain as ‘Us the seven moms’ because we feel that she is with us in spirit.

Our moms discussions no longer were about the boys. Our interests grew wider. There was so much to talk about and we enjoyed the width and depth of our conversations.  We met when we could, talked when we could and whats apped when we could – but stayed in touch, we certainly did. The beauty of this group was that we never compared our children with one another nor did we compare ourselves with one another. We may not be the closest of friends but we know that we can bank on each other if there was a need.

When the boys group grew in number, we also needed to – because every extended group boy became one of our boys. The moms group became bigger and it was time to meet again as an ‘extended moms family’. Oh and we did it with style!!!

Church street, here we come. Whoever was available met and we painted Church street red!! We hopped, skipped and jumped from a cafe to chairs and benches outside of a mall, giggled by the loads, took selfies and disturbed some young couples apologetically, to take some pictures of us. Well, we certainly brought a smile on their faces when they saw what we were upto – a group of women who seemed chronologically old but oh so childlike and having fun!!! At times our laughter would be so loud, that we had some youngsters turning to see where from the noise was.

If that wasn’t enough fun, we picked some similar looking hair bows, wore them and had pictures taken – # friends # extended friends # ft bows. Wonder what the expression on the face of the person taking the pictures was, seeing five women just turning around and posing with their backs to the camera.

As a friend very nicely said – “I have heard of childhood friends meeting, I haven’t heard of mothers of childhood friends, becoming friends, staying as friends for years, expanding their group, meeting and having fun.” That is so true. While most of us have been friends for years, for the extended moms to bond with us and vice versa, and at the age we are in, is not a usual phenomenon. It feels really good to be a part of this unusual phenomenon :-). ‘Us the extended moms’..

‘Old’er moms, youngsters, teenagers, children!!! Which one (s) are we who seem to seal our friendship with bows? Take your pick (s)!!

We are what we are, as colourful and as resplendent as the RRainbowW!! Each of us so different and yet loving and enjoying the differences. Hope this friendship grows and stays as a circle, always connected with one another; and giftwrapped with bows!!!