An Unofficial Mommies Group

It turns out that 4:00 on a Wednesday afternoon is prime-baby time at Safeway. I think they might not even let you in the door if you're not toting a wee little one. Too bad I don't know any of these ladies. We could be friends. But since my only opener is "OMG! How old's your baaaaaby? Can I see how cute?!" I think I'd be considered a weird creeper and not friend potential. Well, there's that, and the fact that the other moms seem to be able to get their act together enough to be properly attired out in public. Me, on the other hand? I'm wearing sweatpants, I've got toothpaste on my sleeve and spit-up on my shoulder, I'm sporting mis-matched Christmas-themed socks, and my only makeup is that I have 2-day-old mascara flakes still lingering on my eyelashes.

I don't belong to any mommies groups, and honestly, I'm not sure what the hell they're about or if I'd have anything at all in common with them. But as a working mom, I don't really have much of a choice. All the baby-mommy events seem to be during the week. Story time at the bookstore? Mid-morning on Tuesdays. Story time at the library? Mid-morning on Thursdays. Breastfeeding support group? It's on Wednesday mornings. Kindermusik? That'd be during the workday, too. Baby swim classes? I can barely get to work and home on time, nevermind scoop her up and get her to a swim class that starts at 5:00 and is half an hour away. I keep thinking about how much of my time with Baby is spent taking her for walks to the park or to go see the duckies in the canal, and how that activity probably won't even be possible once it gets hot (which is Any. Minute. Now.)

I've got to figure out how to make some mommy friends so, if nothing else, she (and I) can have some friends over for indoor playdates once it gets hot. But they better be mommy friends who don't make me feel inadequate since I seem to be the only one here not sporting skinny jeans, a fluttery but immaculate tank, and hair that doesn't look like it's been poorly corralled with vaseline after six hours in a wind tunnel.