At college, there are some people who need a mom, and there are other people who are the mom. They are always worrying about everyone else before themselves and will go over checklists before leaving to go out for the night, making sure no one forgets anything. Without the mom of the friend group, I'm not sure how the friend group would even function.
1. You are the one to make the plans.
While everyone else is getting ready, you make sure you know where you're all going, how you're getting there and how much money everyone should bring. You call the Uber and, and if there's not enough seats in the back, you always get shotgun and talk the Uber driver's ear off, even making the occasional mom comment here and there. (For example, "How does one get into this profession?" "I bet you see a lot of stuff driving college girls around.")
2. "Be safe."
No matter what your friends are doing, this is a common phrase. "Going to the gym for a little." OK, I can't come, but be safe. "Going to UConn for the weekend." Texts three times a day to make sure she's safe and hasn't been abducted or murdered. Being the mom never stops; you always have to make sure your children are safe.
3. You make sure everyone is fed.
I live close to campus, and every Sunday, I work, and after work, I go home to eat dinner. There has not been one Sunday where I haven't invited my friend group home to eat. Just because I want to make sure they're well-fed and have enough meal swipes for the weak. As the mom, you need to make sure your children are getting their proper nutrition.
4. You clear your calendar for all their sporting events.
As the mom, it's really important you make these events, and you do. You ask them 12 times the dates of their events and even put it on your agenda because you just can't miss it.
5. They're sick? You're there.
You bring them Advil, Tylenol, cold and flu syrup and a hot press. Whatever they need,you have it. You have to make sure they are getting better. Sometimes, after they've been in bed all day with the vomit bug, and call you at 3 A.M. that their back is hurting, you might even sleep on the floor with them just to make sure they're all right.
6. "Do you have everything you need?"
No night out is complete without this phrase. You already have a checklist in the back of your head with what everyone needs and repeat it 10 times over. Money? ID? OneCard? Keys? Tampons? Cell phone? Charger?
7. You rally everyone together at the end of the night.
Do a headcount; make sure no one slipped away from the group; make sure everyone gets back in their beds safely. No one gets left behind, and you make sure of that.
8. You know their schedules better than they do.
A good mom always knows where all her chickadees are, and as the mom of the friend group, you always know when they have class, drill (because some of your kids might be in the National Guard) or practice. Sometimes, you might forget, but for the most part, you know.
Some people are just moms with their personalities. They need everyone to be safe; they need to make sure everyone's all good. It works because there's other people who probably couldn't function without the moms, so don't forget to thank your makeshift mom of the friend group.
