I Blog with the Sisterhood Contest

This is my entry for the I Blog with the Sisterhood contest.

The Sister Project is a blog network or family of related blogs: sister blogs, you might say. The 4 founding TSP “sisters,” all writers by profession, explore the many facets of the word sister, and the concept of sisterhood, from twins or older-younger, to sister to a brother, to sister-in-law, or in-friendship, or in-feminism. Whatever “sister” means to you, they’re interested.

Blogging together as The Sister Project has made them as close as sisters, they realize, and they suspect that no group of bloggers is closer-knit or a bigger digital sisterhood than those known as mom-bloggers. So here’s the challenge:

In words (not to exceed 500), or words and images, describe your own digital sisterhood with other mom bloggers by filling in this blank:

“You know you’re a sister when…?”

______________________________________________

You know you’re a sister when your best friend asks you if its OK to use your toothbrush..and you say yes-and mean it.

A few years ago I met a woman online named Alicia. While we clicked online and appeared to have a friendship, I have had too many start and abruptly end to totally trust. Online friendship brings about challenges that are difficult to explain and difficult to maintain.  You have the simple fact that you never see each other, your kids never meet, your husband may not “get it”, and you can never go out for coffee.

In short, going from online to real life may never take a jump.

For several years Alicia and I interacted online, sharing our kids through pictures, supporting each other through difficult situations via text, video, chat rooms, and webcam. Then one day….we called each other.

We have been inseparable ever since.

Alicia and I are different in a lot of ways. She is quiet and I am loud. She has 2 children and I have one. She is a breastfeeding advocate and a midwifes assistant. I am a bottle toting, give me the epidural, mother. She taught me that we do not have to share the same values in order to be valuable to each other.

Now she is my best friend. I am 31 years old and never been more close to anyone (other than my DH) than her. I have told her some of the most difficult things in my life. She never judges, never falters, never stops being my friend because we don’t agree. She has never lied to me and never expected more than I could give at that moment. I call her when I wake up, when I am in my car, when I am shopping, before I go to bed.

We have always lived states away, sharing books through the mail, and sending small gifts to each other during holidays.When BlogHer came, we shared a room. Sure, I was nervous seeing her. Would she still like me the same? Would we have anything to talk about? But she took care of me. Revealing in her small ways that she knew just as much about me as my husband does. Knowing that I need downtime and even once in tears, sharing her patience by offering a shoulder.

Last week when Alicia and I went out and she had a little too much to drink,  I put down my glass and picked up her hand.  I wanted to make sure I took as good of care of her as she has done with my heart and friendship throughout the years.

We went home and as I am putting her to bed, in her adorable cute drunken voice she asked if she could use my toothbrush. I knew our friendship was a sisterhood when I didn’t hesitate.

I am so blessed to have a friend in this world that I don’t have to hesitate with. She makes friendship worth the risk.

~Trisha

P.S. (Luckily she went to sleep before she could actually use it)