Mommies are a girls best friend

After the experience of pregnancy and childbirth, I have a whole new appreciation for my girlfriends. As any new mommy will tell you, it is comforting to be able to confide in someone, especially the not-so-pretty details of a 17-hour labor or the first few weeks of sleep deprivation, and know you aren't facing judgment. My girlfriends are women who really care about what a having a jelly belly feels like and why I cried every day the first week I sent Aubrey to daycare. And it's not exclusive to my girlfriends who have children, either. I have experienced the same warmth and support from all of my friends.

The thing that continually amazes me, though, is the attention you get from people who are complete strangers. When you start carrying a baby around, everyone talks to you...EVERYONE.

Looking back, it actually started while I was pregnant...the world loves a pregnant lady. I had only one stranger touch my belly, but the night I went into labor, I was waddling around the grocery store and a woman stopped me to tell me she "had babies on the mind" and seeing me was a sign.

By now, men and women of all ages have stopped me while I'm out and about wanting to see my baby and tell me about...well, anyone they know, really...who has had kids. My favorite people are the other moms, though. All of a sudden, NOTHING is off-limits. They will tell you the most intimate details of their childbirth experience and ask you whether you're breastfeeding as well as other various questions regarding your lady parts.

It's like you've joined a secret club and the most private details of your life are completely on the table. And you know what? It doesn't even seem that weird after you've had countless people you've never met experiencing the greatest miracle of your life while your in more pain than anyone can possibly imagine and your face is so swollen your own husband can barely recognize you and you're puking into anything you can find because nothing can give you enough relief...not that that happened to me or anything.

I will say that I am not quick to dish any really private details to complete strangers. And although it doesn't bother me, it never ceases to amaze me what they ask. Today, I went to pick up my contacts and one of the women behind the counter asked how my labor was and then wanted to high-five me for birthing a nine pound baby. It was actually pretty sweet, because although it was no piece of cake, I didn't get a medal for it, and when I thought about it later, I secretly appreciated the "way to go."