In May 2013, I found out I was pregnant! What an exciting time but I also didn't know too many moms pregnant and in the same stages as myself. I was on a few forums but most of the moms were from the USA, and while you wouldn't think it would be THAT different because they're our neighbours, my oh my were they different. Half the conversations were about money. How will they afford the birth or even prenatal visits to the doctor or if they've figured out childcare yet... Some women hadn't even peed on a stick yet and they were already trying to sort out child care??! I am blessed to be Canadian and not have to worry about those things especially in the first few weeks of pregnancy!
So I continued my search and landed upon baby center. It was here that I found a group of Canadian moms all due with January 2014 babies!
Baby center isn't the easiest way to communicate, so someone created a secret Facebook group. It was here that I've created some of the best friendships I've ever had.
In the early stages of this group, we talked about all things pregnancy related. From cravings to the stress of spontaneous bleeding to doctors appointments and finding out genders. We got to know each other fairly well and even went out for dinner with some local ladies while all pregnant.
After babies were born it was nice to have play dates as well as have someone to talk to in the middle of the night with a baby on your boob.
It wasn't always happy times, we had our group drama when a woman was trying to scam people out of money as well, sleep deprived moms can say things they don't mean. We shared about all kinds of issues including illnesses and partners splitting up as well as the exciting things like weddings and new siblings!
Having "known" these women for almost 5 years, they were one of the first places I talked to about a terminal illness in my extended family. I was met with prayers and love which meant the world. These women truly cared.
Then a few weeks after this news one of the moms from the group (whom I actually went to highschool with but didn't really know) asked if she could stop by. Her and another mom came by with a gorgeous bouquet of purple tulips and a basket full of meals from a local farm. What a thoughtful gift to say they were thinking of me and my family. But it wasn't just from them, it was from my birth group. These women (some I've never even met) had reached out. They all put together some money so that I could have a special day at the spa with my family member.
How blessed am I to have found such amazing people? I still tear up thinking about it. I'm so glad I stumbled upon the baby center page. I never would have thought that a group of online strangers would become like family and be my biggest support when I needed it the most.
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