The Connecticut Mom

​Connecticut, and much of New England for that matter, is a place of beauty, peace, and stark stone walls set up by settlers hundreds of years ago. The people are much the same. 
 
Spending most of my life thus far in quaint towns, I've met wonderful, vibrant, loving people who I call my friends but as life matures and changes, I've also swam in the sea of loneliness called Motherhood, which feels a lot deeper in this small state. 
 
It's quite common for Connecticut moms to go to the playground with their kids, stand within 5 feet of each other, smile (maybe) but never utter a word. When we ventured to Virginia, I was incredibly perplexed the first time a mom, who I didn't know, started to chat with me as I watched my kids slide and climb. I enjoyed our morning chit-chat about the weather and struggles of getting kids out the door, but remained completely surprised that women would talk to other women they didn't know in locations far from ye olde pilgrim's influence.
 
In the cold Connecticut social life of a mom, I've often noticed that women are enraptured on their families appearance and keep strangers far away, less any flaws be noticed. But breaking the wintery ice, that is a joy! 
 
We all await spring, the new life of friendships blossoming, and in any relationship, especially a New England one, it starts with the ice melting and revealing that we don't have our lives all together, our husbands aren't perfect and the bills might not always get payed on time. Then, and only then, is there something to relate to. The real human story, not the designer facade. And there good soil lies.
 
I've been fortunate to stumble upon a wonderful homeschooling group, filled with different people from many backgrounds. We've been joining in over the last year, and one of my favorite moments came when another mom expressed her vulnerability and desire to completely quit. I knew that feeling well, and to my great surprise, so did most of the moms. We laughed about the tears we'd shed before and bonded knowing the journey of motherhood is long, exhausting, and lonely- but it doesn't have to be if we open up our hearts, even in Connecticut.