The Friends Who Become Family.

I consider myself very lucky to have special kinds of friendship that go beyond playdates. The kind where your friends don’t just love you—they love your kids, too. They celebrate their milestones, wipe their tears, and cheer them on as if they were their own. These are the friends who become family, and if you have even one of them, you know how priceless that bond is.

I have friendships that have lasted over 20 years. They’ve survived so much- heartbreak, failure, family issues, huge life changes, and more. What makes it even more special is that my friends are all in different stages of life. Some are raising kids of their own, fully understanding the chaos that is my life. Others are single, navigating their own adventures but still showing up for me and my kids. Some are just stepping into adulthood, figuring out life on their own, yet they somehow make room for me and my kids in their hearts. No matter where they are in their journey, they love and support us in the ways that matter most. Showing up to their games, wishing them a happy birthday, spending quality time with them and most importantly, being a part of their lives.

But beyond the celebrations and milestones, these friendships offer something even more valuable: ease.

With them, I don’t have to apologize when I show up to dinner with my toddler in tow, knowing full well that a peaceful meal might not be in the cards. I don’t have to feel guilty when my kid makes a mess on their couch or when they dig through their cabinets looking for snacks. I don’t have to cringe when my child has a full-blown meltdown in their living room, because I know they won’t judge me—they’ll hand me a glass of wine and jump in to help.

Motherhood is already filled with so many moments of guilt. We are already always asking ourselves: Am I inconveniencing someone? Am I asking for too much? Am I doing this right? But when you have friends who embrace your children as part of their world, that guilt starts to fade. You stop feeling like a burden and start feeling like you belong.

And beyond the relief, there’s something even greater, the kind of joy that comes from seeing your child feel safe with the people who mean so much to you. Watching them run into the arms of a friend who greets them like their own. Seeing them feel completely at home in someone else’s space, knowing they are welcomed, not just tolerated. Witnessing the little moments, like when your child curls up next to a friend on the couch or when they reach for their hand just as naturally as they reach for yours.

As a mother, there’s no better feeling than knowing your kids are loved—not just by you, but by your village. And one day, when they are older, I hope they remember these people the way I do. The ones who held them as babies, who sat in the stands at their games, who never forgot a birthday, who laughed at their silly jokes and listened to their wildest stories. The ones who showed up, time and time again.

And that’s what makes these friendships so beautiful. They make motherhood easier and less lonely. They remind me that it won’t always be like this—one day, my kids will be older, quieter, more independent. But when I look back, I’ll remember the ones who stood by me when it was like this. We were never meant to do this alone. We were meant to create a village where our kids feel safe, loved, and seen—not just by us, but by the people we choose to surround them with.

So, here’s to the friends who become aunts, uncles, and second parents. The ones who show up, no matter what. Because in the end, family isn’t always about blood—it’s about the people who love us like we’re their own.