It was a midsummer night, and I found myself curled up on the couch, scrolling my phone, when I decided to just go for it. After many failed attempts to make mom friends through social media, I decided to start a profile on BumbleBFF. Yes, it felt a little crazy and spontaneous but I was so ready for it.
It took some soul searching and about thirty minutes before my profile was live: “Hey! New mom looking to connect with other moms in the Lou. Love walking in Forest Park, going to the zoo, botanical gardens, butterfly house, aquarium … pretty much anything! Also want to connect with other creative females and get out of the house for coffee or a glass of wine. 🙂 fully vaxxed.”
Deep breath. Ok, now I guess I’m ready to swipe.
As someone who wants to be friends with everyone, I decided that this time around, I needed to be selective. And to be honest, there weren’t a whole lot of moms on Bumble BFF so it made the few right swipes I made more meaningful. As I started swiping, I came across a profile of a young mom. Her hair was still wet and she was holding up her little baby for the camera. She had the biggest smile.
Swipe right.
Turns out she swiped right on me, too! We start messaging and decide to schedule a meetup. Am I crazy? I’m about to meet a stranger at the Turkish Pavilion in Tower Grove Park with my baby. What am I doing?
We went for a walk and just hit it off. Even though our babies had a little gap in age, we still made it happen. We explored the city over the years and invited each other over for playdates. We talked about all the joys and struggles of motherhood and parenting these tiny humans. When my water broke during my second pregnancy, she was one of the first people I texted. She came over with her daughter to our messy house and watched my toddler while my husband and I were in the hospital.
Even though she has moved away and we now keep in touch with messages and FaceTimes, she will always hold a special place in my heart. I hopped back on Bumble BFF the other day and revisited her profile. Now she has two kids, lives in a different state, but still has the same smile that captured me on Bumble BFF three years ago. Whoever is swiping right on the other side – you’re going to meet one amazing mom.
