I hear the buzz of conversations from the tables around us in the restaurants. The lights are dim and the room is candlelit. The clink of the silverware peppers through the air. I make mental notes trying to remember every detail.
My eyes gaze upon my company at the table. Several moms have broken off into one on one conversations. I turn my head to the lady on my left who is talking to the lady on her left. The magic of the evening relaxes me. I am in a grownup restaurant, not a high chair in sight. I can’t stop smiling.
My closest dinner companion turns to me to pose for the camera aimed at us. My mellow states makes me forget who our famous diner is.
Erica Ehm, former Much Music host and CEO of The Yummy Mummy Club is in Vancouver promoting her childrens book The Mischievious mom at the Art Gallery. We , along with seven other moms, are dining at the Sandbar on Granville Island.
Erica and Cori of The Momior Project were the first to publish my articles. They both gave me the confidence as a writer. I love the encouragement that writing about being a mom has given me. There is no competition. We all have a story to share.
As we get to know Erica, she also asks for everyone’s story. The attention each one gets from the table bonds us together in motherhood. We talk about our kids, kids allergies, how we met our husbands and fellow mom writers who are not present tonight.
Not one of us talks about guilt about being away from our kids. We are all relaxed and happy.
The waitress comes around asking if we wish dessert. Everyone orders something. Clearly we are all not ready to leave. It is late on a ‘school night’ and that is okay. This evening at first, is about meeting Erica and other moms whom I met in virtual world. It is turning into reminders that we all need to get together more often.
We eventually say our good byes. There are promises to keep in touch and meeting again. I know we will. Writing gives me an entry into this amazing support in motherhood. I can’t wait to see where we go next.
