Honestly Angela  

One of the first "mommy friends" I made when G was born is a woman I'll call Angela. We actually met when G was only 4 days old and still in NICU. I was feeling very overwhelmed by the idea of being a mother, and I think God sent Angela into my life for that purpose.

Over the years, Angela has been one of the most honest friends I've ever had. She's not only honest about our friendship (a few weeks ago, she cried when I mentioned the possibility of moving for DH's job... two years from now), but she's also honest about herself as a mother.

Example A: Angela is a very earth-conscious consumer. She had planned to use cloth diapers for her first daughter, L, who is 3 months older than G. But when L started having extreme bowel movements that made cloth diapering all but impossible, Angela was realistic. She organized a cloth diaper sale in our area, giving her a place to sell what was left of her pricey supply of diapers at a fair price, then used the money to stock up on store brand disposables.

Example B: When I first met Angela, she and her husband only subscribed to cable TV in the winter, so they could watch their favorite college basketball team's games (I hate to say it, but Angela and her hubby do not cheer for Duke... shame on them!). Talk about thrifty; Angela has taught me almost everything I know about couponing and saving money. And while she will cut out coupons from the Sunday paper for me and the rest of her friends, or organize a carpool for the annual fall consignment sales, she isn't one of those preachy types who is obsessed with money.

Example C: Angela is the epitome of flexible. It is not uncommon for her to host a playdate, even with both her daughters are napping. She has no problem with my child tearing her house apart; as long as she isn't directly responsible for watching a child, she is able to relax while the rest of us chase toddlers.

Example D: The thing I love most about Angela is how darn real she is. She doesn't hold any punches, and she tells it like it is. And she's the MOST honest about herself as a mother. In fact, just this morning, she told me she put her youngest daughter down to bed last night just after the sun had set (6:40pm around these parts these days), because she was-- and I quote-- "Done." So many moms I know pretend to be perfect; they get all dolled up to go to the grocery store, they always have a clean house when I come over, and they tell fabulous stories about every aspect of their lives. But Angela doesn't put on any airs (or make-up, yet she's always glowing; she obviously has good genes). She is as real as they come, and that is so refreshing.