Last updated on March 4th, 2024 at 08:16 pm
When I first moved to to our new house, I was about to be a first time mother. There is nothing scarier in those few weeks leading up to becoming a parent when it starts to all feel so real. Living 10,000 miles away from my own mother, family and friends just amplified this fear by a 100. Who would I run to for parenting advice? Who would I confide in when I my child was having a bad day, thus making me have a bad day? Calling someone on the phone or even facetime, however grateful I am for these two technologies that make living so far away not as painful, is still not the same as having them here. With Mr. P’s family living in Ireland and mine in America, I was petrified I would be so lonely. The first few years living here weren’t easy ones, I have yet to write many posts about that time because it holds a lot of pain and letting go. Happily that all changed when I met my next door neighbor.
My little boy was eight weeks old, I had been keeping busy getting involved in baby groups and having the blessing to have met some amazing ladies through Bumps, Babies, and Beyond class. If you missed that post, click here. When a package came to our house for the next door neighbor, Mr P ran it over as he knew she too had just had a baby the week before. He returned and said how sweet the lady was, she had a boy too, and I should introduce myself sometime as I would really like her.
The following week, I made some fresh pastries on a platter and went to introduce myself. Not foreseeing what was to come and unknown it would be a story we will forever tell.
As I rang the doorbell, my tiny little Buba decided that his mango breakfast should come back up. A platter full of freshly made pastries in one hand and a puking baby in the other, I prayed she didn’t choose this moment to answer the door. He had managed to get it down the front of him, the front of me, on the pastries and even the entire front of her door! In a quick first time mother panic I ran back home to hide in shame, leaving her door plastered with mangoes. I quickly texted my mommy group for advice. Should I go back over and clean her door? Slip a “I’m sorry”note through the door and hide every time I see her. I decided I would run over and give her door a wipe down, it was the least I could do, as I walked out my front door I saw her other half pull into the drive. Crap! I was too ashamed so I left it. For the next week, my mommy friend’s kept asking me have I spoke to “Mango Lady” yet? I hadn’t. Finally I got the courage to slip a card in the door, one to apologize and two to give her my number so we could set up a playdate properly.
From the moment we had our first playdate, we both knew it was the start to a long strong friendship. Right away, I didn’t feel like I just had met her, we chatted like we had been friends forever. I have never hit it off with someone so quickly. I admitted to the mango mess and apologized again. She nicely pretended she never saw it on her door. I half hoped she was just being too kind or the rain had really washed it away. Our boys were the same, instantly taking each other in, and playing.
It’s been two and half years since we met, without force our boys are now inseparable just as much as we are. They brought us together, without them I would have never introduced myself and got to know “Mango Lady” next door. It only took me 7 years living in this country to find my best friend. Someone who gets me completely, that never judges me, is always there for me, and someone I would drop everything for. She is like another sister to me, family. We are similar and have a blast together. She has really made England more home for me, as has her family. She helped me as I became a first time parent and didn’t feel like I knew what I was doing. Her whole family has adopted us all in with open arms, her sister, and parents alike. I am forever grateful for each one of them too! 
Just because we were best friends, we knew that our kids might not be. We never forced them to play together when we all got together. At first, Buba was more obsessed with E’s older sister, as he walked first and was super tall for his age, he wanted to be like the big kids. We gave it time, and it wasn’t long before our boys wanted only each other. Playing hide and go seek in our curtains, and racing around with cars on the floor together. Buba now only wants to do something if E does it too. He is always asking what is E up to, when he isn’t in nursery, as they go to the same place. They are boys and I am sure there will be fights in the future, but it’s such a blessing that they love each other and are as close as their Mommas are too! It’s so cute to watch them together.
Then along came Missy Moo. Even though Mills is four years older than her, you can tell there will be a friendship there. Missy Moo looks up to Mills already, watching her every move. I know in a few years time Mills will be watching over her, protecting her and showing her all the fun games to play.
I love that we have found a best friend in us all. That our families are perfectly balanced, and comfortable together. We can’t choose our family but we can choose our friends, and even better we can choose which friends we want as family!
I am ever so grateful for all our fun adventures together. From our big events like Christmas and birthday celebrations together to our ordinary park play, and music each week, it is all memories we will have to cherish.
These pictures were taken last week, having lunch together and playing around the house. Nothing special to celebrate just spending time together. These are the moments I will remember forever and make life so very special.
We love you K Family!
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Aww! So glad you found such a good friend…..Such a lovely, funny story how you met 😀
Haha Thanks Kim. It’s a great story to tell people too. I really struggled not having a close friend for the first 7 years living here, it really has made it so much easier. Not as home sick.
I had the same dilemma when i moved here. My parents are far and I am a new mother. werent able to find any friend tho and I am still searching. Must be the language barrier. Congrats to your friend. I know how important a friend is in a new land. I hope I make sense as my toddler is bugging me =)
It’s hard, and took me forever to make a good friend. I had a lot of hardship with friends along the way. I won’t say it was easy. I hope you find your person soon though it really does help. Yes, you make sense I am good at cyphering toddler type we have it here all the time. lol
That is such a wonderful story Jenny. I laughed out loud when I read about the mango (POD used to spill up everything regularly!) but I’m glad you got to meet and your friendship has grown.
It must be brilliant to look back at those early times now. And laugh no doubt! Gorgeous post and great photos, thank you so much for sharing #whatsthestory
Ahhh thank you so much for your amazing comments Charly. you are ever so sweet. It truly was fate to meet. I am still embarrassed and call her Mango Lady almost three years later. It is lovely to look back and all the pictures. you are right. So very lucky to have them all in my life. Thanks for hosting.
That’s a lovely story. I remember how tough it was moving to the UK and trying to make a new friend. And hilarious about the mango vomit! #whatsthestory
It is tough I have yet to blog about the hard times those first few years. The panic what did I do and the crap I went through as I don’t know if I should have it public. Glad someone secretly knows. wink 😉 Yes it was a funny moment looking back now.
That’s so special. It’s so rare to find a best friend living right next door but what an amazing thing it must have been once you found it. My best friend lives 40 mins away and it’s not too far but it’s not too close. Nice post!
This is such a beautiful honest story. You really never know where you will find your true friends! I’m so glad you’ve settled and have found people close to home!
Also thankyou for visiting my blog on #share friday I look forward to reading more x
Thanks Hannah, so sweet of you. I enjoyed your post. Share Friday is great, although I do always get there a bit late to comment sometimes.But always make it one way or another. Would love to have you back. I do a Share With Me Linky on Wednesday to get to know more bloggers and their blogs. It can be old or new post, would love to see you there, get a chance to read more of your posts!!!
Jenny i think you must be about the sweetest person on the whole planet!
I love your mango puke dilemma ha ha.
seriously though i appreciate how difficult it must be living so far from friends and family and am so glad you have found such good friends to help make up for that x
Ahhh thanks Katie. That’s the best compliment I have ever received. You just made my day. It has been hard, I won’t lie but I won’t blog about it as tough years are behind me and I am not sure anyone would want to read all that crap anyway. hahaha thanks for understanding. Blogging actually has been the best hug ever. It helps me focus on something positive instead of what I am missing out on back home.
aww such a lovely story and what beautiful pictures lovely post jenny #magicmoments
Thank you Helen. Thanks for stopping by and commenting too. I am ever so grateful to have moved to this area and have met them all. Next to them blogging has really helped me stay positive and focus on doing something rather than what I am missing out on back home.
I’m so glad you managed to find a close friend, I know how hard it is, I’m not there yet; but I’m working on it. The mango story made me laugh out loud 🙂 Lovely post Jenny x
Thanks Sara. I am ever so grateful to have moved to this area and met them all. Next to that blogging keeps me positive and focused on things here and now instead of what I am missing out on back home. It has been tough on the friends side of things for seven years so I am relieved things are looking better. Having more fun and making memories here finally. The mango story was a must to tell. We are always laughing about it. Never a dull moment around clumsy me and my forever puking children. Both are nonstoppers.
What a great story! What on earth she must have thought of her mango puke covered door haha x
hahahah I know. It’s a huge joke still two and half years later. And my other mommy group still call her Mango Lady. It was not funny in the moment but hilarious now looking back. My two are forever puking, don’t know where it comes from. So we have had a few of these embarrassing moments.
Jeez lady! How heartwarming is this story! Such an adorable {and I’m sorry, FUNNY!} why to meet your forever friend. Mango lady! haha, what an amazing story to tell the children when they’re older. #magicmoments
Thank you Debs. I am forever grateful for her and the rest of her lovely family. I really am. I know never a dull moment near clumsy me and my forever puking children. Great story forever to be told.
What a fab post about how a friendship begun – Loving the name ‘Mango Lady’. Stunning photos and so pleased you’ve been ‘adopted’ by her family too. I don’t know what I would do without my three girlies who are my besties. We’ve cried together, comforted each other during the most difficult moments, laughed together, gotten drunk together……………… Great post – off to go and give my girlies a SUPER hug xx #whatsthestory
Thank you. So glad you have three girlies! I think it’s important in life to have your people as well as your family. The ones on the outside to see the world a little bit different and unbias than family. Definitely hug them tight. I am forever grateful for her and her lovely family for sure. It’s helped living so far away from my own country.
Aww such a lovely post about a lovely friendship! I’m so glad you found your best friend as being a mummy is hard and having someone who is there for you through it all is a wonderful thing! Even better that she lives just next door! Loving the mango story too, so funny! I hope your friendship, and your kids, lasts forever #whatsthestory xx
Oh me too Caroline. It truly has helped so very much. I couldn’t thank her enough for all that she does for us. Not just her but her whole family adopted us.
Thank you for writting this BFF you are truly a lovely person and I’m not sure why no one snapped you up as a best friend but their loss my gain. My life took a different path 18mths ago and I think I wouldn’t be as strong as I am if you weren’t in it! Love you BFF x
Ps never noticed the mango on the door so if you never told me I wouldn’t be any the wiser! Haha
Haha I love that ur screen name is mango lady. Nope you were the only English person to snap me up! Lol they can’t handle this American. Hehehe big hugs right back my lovely. Xo
What a lovely post about friendship! You first attempt at making contact was not a very successful one, but it did make me laugh. So typical! Same here, we have no family around so friends are really important. Mel
Friends can be just as great as family. They all have helped me so very much. A little post about them isn’t even enough to say thank you.
What a very sweet post. It must be so hard living away from your family. I miss my mum if she’s been on holiday a couple of weeks,so can’t imagine how it is for you.
Sometimes as you get older it’s harder to make new friends but sounds like you have made a fab one there! xx
Ya I agree but having kids really did help! I know I am so grateful for FaceTime I do with with my mom dad and all my siblings and friends all the time. Thank you technology. Lol
Oh what a sweet post Jenny and how lovely to have such a great best friend, especially that the children are so close too. And what a funny story to start your friendship off, you will definitely remember that one forever! x
hahah Thanks Katie. I truly am so lucky. We almost didn’t move into this house too and I can’t imagine how different and lonely being a mother would have been while Mr P works so hard. I couldn’t have made it through a lot without her and her amazing supportive family too. We still call her Mango Lady. lol It’s a great story to tell the kids when they get older. I should have took a picture of her front door. lol
what a super post Jenny .. although it would of been just my luck Joshua would of puked up fruit over my neighbours!
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
Haha Thanks Jaime. My kids are big pukers I should have saw the signs coming. hahaha Makes for a great story to tell though. Thanks for hosting.
So lovely! So glad you found your best friend, even if it did take a while of being here. A true friend is amazing. Once you are a new mum it’s so important as well to have someone who gets you and doesn’t judge. Gorgeous post. x
Thanks hun. Greatly put. Becoming a mom has changed me so much. definitely great to have someone that understand me and where I am coming from now. Better late than never. 😉
Aww Jenny, this is so lovely. What a beautiful photo of you both and the little ones too xxx
Thank you so much Michelle. So sweet of you to say. They are all so fun and we all really do love getting together and playing together. So blessed.