My mother is the queen of thank you notes. Actually, she is the queen of any kind of note, thank you or otherwise. Over the years, people have gone out of their way to mention how moved they have been by a card she wrote: her colleague whose father had passed away earlier in the year, appreciating a note my mom sent six months after his death acknowledging that she still remembered; my daughter’s first grade teacher expressing gratitude for a complimentary note my mom sent; a friend whose birthday she never forgets… she puts me to shame.
Today I am writing an Open Thank You Note to a handful of friends who have extended small acts of kindness to me, the magnitude of which I haven’t forgotten.
Thank you, friend:
- For coming over with a caramel apple pie as soon as you heard my bad news.
- For drinking mimosas with me at 10:00 am on a Wednesday and reassuring me that I am not alone, nor am I a “bad mother”.
- For driving me to the doctor when I was too sick to drive myself.
- For having “breastfeeding playdates” with me when our babies were still young, and helping me to slowly feel like a normal human being again.
- For keeping 15 years worth of all my deepest secrets. You know my lips are sealed, too.
- For bringing me a latte from Starbucks even though you had no idea how tired I was that morning.
- For encouraging me and giving me the confidence to move forward with my writing. Even though I haven’t met you “In Real Life”, I consider you a true friend.
- For revising your vision of Girls Night, and happily spending a Friday evening on the couch with me and my six year old, watching The Little Mermaid and eating popcorn.
- For being a part of my Moms Group, a circle of women who have kept me sane over the past four years with our monthly meetings, wine, desserts, laughter, and shared tears. You have made me a better mother, wife, and person.
- For witnessing 27 years worth of my highs and lows, and loving me always- I treasure this oldest friendship in my life.
- For laughing hysterically with me in the Target fitting room as I try on the least flattering pair of pants ever made.
- For alleviating my isolation throughout my ambivalent blogging experience, and assuring me that you too are an Awkward Tweeter.
- For providing me with your therapy services, all for the price of a haircut and color.
- For giving me the best backrub I have ever had the day after I gave birth to my oldest daughter.
Girlfriends are essential. Here is our challenge to you: Write a 1-2 sentence “Thank you card” to one of your friends- any friend- and leave it in the comments. No friend names required! Or join in the fun on my Facebook page, and if you’re feeling brave, share it with your friends!
If you missed yesterday’s HerStories essay from Dana of Kiss My List, you can read it here!
HerStories is a series that explores the many layers of women’s friendship. We have been collecting 500-1000 word essays and featuring several per week, one here at Mommy, for Real, and one at School of Smock. If you are just joining us, visit our HerStories page to read all the essays we have featured so far! Interested in submitting a friendship essay? Email us at herstoriesfriendshiptales@gmail.com along with a 2-3 sentence bio and any photos you’d like to include! -Stephanie & Jessica
Sooo beautiful. I Love you too Sister. Thank you for sharing your stories and your compassion. You’re are always holding my hand, through it all, and I am holding yours <3
What a beautiful comment, Whitt- thank you so much. xo
Thank you for being one of the only cool people at work and letting me know I wasn’t crazy, and it wasn’t me, it was them (all of them!). I only stayed at that job for six months, I hated it so much but at least I met you there.
Yes! That’s what I’m talkin’ about… (I am so tired right now after dealing with some ridiculous WP malware nonsense that I almost forgot what I requested you guys do in the comments, and I had one of those moments that happens to me when I call someone and by the time they answer I have forgotten who I called. OK, that was too long.)
Thank you my ‘groupie’ buddy for coming with me to all of my husband’ gigs and not being afraid to get up and shake your booty when the dance floor was empty.
Ok I am already loving these comments. I would totally be a groupie friend with you too! 😉
Oh this is just so beautiful!!!! I love this idea!! I will surely join you!
Thank you my friend, for all your grace and ability to see beyond my flaws. And for always loving me through the storms.
I will share your post!! Wonderful message. 🙂
Thank you so much, for joining in and for sharing!
Thank you to all my women friends who keep me sane! If I say that you make my life a little less hellish, at least several of you will know what I’m talkin’ about! I love you all and you know who you are!
Love you too!
Thank you to all the new mommas who used to meet at the Giggling Green Bean every Thursday afternoon, swapping stories of sleep deprivation, pushy relatives, breastfeeding challenges who helped me feel like I wasn’t so alone. I never would have survived those first few months with my sanity intact without your support. So many of us have gone different ways now, but I will always remember the close-knit support group, not just at the GGB, but relaxing at the coffee shop or walking the neighborhood with our “babes in Beccos”. <3
That is awesome Hollie!
I am going to totally steal this idea. It’s not really plagiarism, right? 🙂
I want to thank the friend that helped me out today by offering to take Allie for a playdate this afternoon while Boo is in 3 hours of therapy. Not only does Allie get to go to the best house ever, she is feeding her too!
Steal away! And I love your comment!
Thank you to my wonderful mom group who welcomed me to Buffalo when I first moved here last year! Our little babies are growing up, and I hope that our children become great friends as well!
Thank you for making me laugh until I have to pee, for always ordering a dessert to share, and for making Thursday (the day I see you) my favorite day of the week. If you are judged by the company you keep, I am in excellent shape!
I absolutely loved your thank you note – it really moved me, and I’m sure all your friends too. The opening paragraph was touching, for sure.
Thanks Mom! 🙂
I am loving these comments, everyone!
Is your mom related to my mom? Seriously, my mom is so the queen of notes (thank you notes especially). That said, I am honestly just thankful for my very close friend, who even after all these years is there for me no matter. We can go weeks without talking because of our schedules and as soon as we talk again it is like no time has passed. So, I am truly blessed and so happy to have such a wonderful person like this to call a friend. 🙂
Steph, this is beautiful! I have a core group of amazing girlfriends who I am eternally grateful for and who lift me up when I’m down, laugh with me, laugh at me!, offer advice when I need it, and who are just always there no matter what. I’d be lost without them. Great post x
Thank you, thank you thank you for NOT abandoning me when so many other people did. I was at my lowest point in life and others just did not understand how to help me rebuild. You did and I will forever be in your debt. You are the true definition of the word friend and because of you I have figured out how to rebuild my life and find others who, like you, are there through thick and thin. Forever and ever in life I will be grateful to you and your love.
I just want to say that I LOVE your blog. I love your honesty and I love this particular post. I strive to be like your mother and always remembering to do something every day that will make another person’s day. There are so many little things that we can do if we just take a moment. Thank you for your blog. I am a huge fan.
Love this…
Thank you to all of my friends for being you. For letting me be happy with no need for a caveat. For letting me be angry or sad or frustrated with no need for apology. For listening and actually hearing me. For making terrible jokes. For cookies. For walks. For trips to the park with no purpose other than exhausting our children. For help. For holding my hand even when I didn’t ask you to. Thank you.
That was beautiful. Thanks for contributing such a great comment!
Thank you for giving me pep talks, hugs (both virtual and irl), and for listening to me go on and on, both in good times and in bad. Thank you for being like a sister to me.
OK, this is wonderful and I so wish I would have written this. I love the concept and the sentiment and I have no idea how the pants at the Target fitting room looked but I was laughing with you, because the moment is so familiar.
Thank you for your wonderful posts. They are always uplifting!
Katia
What a lovely post, Stephanie. You may not feel like you measure up to your mom in thank you notes but you clearly measure up to her warmth. Thank you for helping to create such a great group of bloggers that I feel welcome in.
That was the loveliest comment- thank you so much Jean! You are a great addition to this community!
I miss having my good friends nearby! This was very nice to read. *sniff* 🙂
Does anyone else hear the theme to The Golden Girls in their head? You know, the thank you for being a friend song? No? Just me?
What a fantastic post. I’m blessed by having a fantastic best friend and a group of good girlfriends who are supportive. With them I feel understood and I know I’m not alone. It’s a true blessing!! –Lisa
Sweet post, Stephanie!