When I was pregnant no one mentioned I was going to meet the most wonderful new
friends. I would not be able to enter a shop or walk down the street to get
groceries without chatting to numerous people. That in a city as big as New
York, that we could become locals in our supermarket, how many millions cross
through those doors every day?? Yet they remember the girl with the red hair. Even the security guard is cooing and smiling
at you and shop assistants are waving from across the store. This is
as close to feeling like a celebrity that I will ever feel.
All social boundaries are ignored
and everyone men, women and children are your friends. But not only
superficial friendships are made, real friendships too, with like-minded people
who are also in the same phase of life. First time moms and dads. I think they
have to be the friendliest bunch of people I have ever met.
I was
not prepared for the amount of lunches, coffee mornings, play dates, dinners,
and social activities that come with having a baby.
It has never been easier to meet people; I
have never felt like I have had so many great people around me. People that I
have only met and yet I can contact them from across the ocean and they are
there.
I was not prepared for all the smiles I receive the
amount of strangers whom I have had
a moment with and the kindness people have shown me.
I've travelled alone with Alessia on a numerous occasions, and so many people have gone out of their way to ensure I am
ok.
Don't get me wrong; I have had people run the
other way when they see me coming to sit down. Restaurants tell me there was no
room in a blatantly empty restaurant. People getting up and change seats while
I was breastfeeding on the train, a man nearly having a nervous breakdown when
he saw me coming to sit beside him on the plane. But I always politely ignore
them and go back into my mindfulness where I actually don't notice
them. I only notice those that are helping me or smiling at me or
offering assistance the others don't matter.
I had
made one conscious decision when Alessia was born and that was no one
else mattered. If I was going to enjoy parenthood, I SURE AS HELL WAS NOT GOING
TO WORRY WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT.
It is as though having a child makes it ok to
invite complete strangers to go on outings with you, come to your house
for coffee and take each others numbers after a four minute chat. Having spent
a few weeks in NYC we were already getting dinner invites and being asked out
on multiply day trips, and as much as I would like to think it's because I
have such a wonderful personality and people just want to be my friend. I
really have my daughter to thank as without her I wouldn't be getting
these invites, and sure wouldn’t have
been invited to a play date yesterday which just happened to be accompanied by the most wonderful food.
I have been introduced to a world of free
fun, getting to discover my inner child again and luckily along with so many like-minded
people.
One day I can thank Alessia for what she had
added to my life.
FREEFUNNYC
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