"Let's stay friends" - Memories of a mom friend that started with a letter

In my previous article, I wrote about
the first time I went to the park
to play with a friend from daycare.

Actually, there is a continuation to that story...

👇 Click here for the previous article

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A few days later, I received some photos
from the mom of the friend I played with.
She said, "Here are the photos I took
when we were at the park, if you'd like them~☺️"

(Back then, we sometimes still developed photos
to share with each other📷
Since LINE became popular,
we've started sending photos taken on smartphones and SLR cameras via LINE.
The album feature is so convenient, isn't it?✨)

The enclosed letter contained
a message saying "Let's stay friends~"
and that mom's contact information
was written on it.

I was so nervous because it was my first time experiencing that!
Just like when I received a love letter (lol)
But I was very happy😊

I immediately sent an email
to thank her for the photos and the letter.
That was when our personal friendship began.

I was on maternity leave, but
that mom had already returned to work
after having her second child,
so we mostly hung out on weekends😊

On Sundays, we would have picnics
or play in the water at a nearby park with our families❣️
On Saturdays, there were days when we were both parenting alone,
so on those days, we would sometimes
have lunch at each other's houses and let the kids play🎶

🔸A comfortable distance where neither of us feels burdened

🔸The children being able to play happily together

🔸A give-and-take relationship

These are the things I was conscious of
when interacting with mom friends😌

In dual-income households,
I think there are many people who want to
"spend time relaxing with their family on the weekend."

If you invite someone like that to "hang out on the weekend!"
they might find it annoying💦
As you get to know each other,

do they share the same values as you?
Is it mutually beneficial?

You gradually start to understand.
Like, how far you can go when asking questions...
I try not to ask about things
that the other person hasn't asked me about.
(For example, occupation, income, husband, etc...)

Also, I don't blab to other moms
about personal worries or stories
I've heard about their families.
I think they told me because it was private,
and because it was me.

It's obvious, but
【don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to you】
Even children understand that, right?😉
But I think it's something you shouldn't forget
when interacting with mom friends.

Basically, I think
【children have the most fun playing with other children】
so I welcome weekend invitations!!
It's much easier for the adults too,
since we don't have to entertain the kids the whole time✨

Of course, if you don't keep a close eye on them,
there might be trouble between the children,
so I try to handle those situations
carefully.
(This part gets a bit complicated
as the children get older, though...😅)

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In my third year at nursery school, I made some mom friends☆
My eldest son's grade really had a lot of first-born children,
there were many moms I wanted to connect with,
and because there were many nice, easygoing people of the same age,
I gradually made more mom friends after that too☺️

There were also occasional playdates for the whole class,
and even after graduation, there was an annual sleepover event♪
It stopped after the COVID-19 pandemic, though...

It was a very close-knit grade,
and both parent and child were able to have a fun nursery school life,
so
they are truly wonderful memories🥰

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👇Read more about mom friends here

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