Me and my mum friends  I've found friendships among mothers to
be uniquely intimate and non-judgmental – unlike how it's
presented in the media     • Jump to comments () Mothers friends
Motherhood is in part a collective experience. Photograph: David
Levene  I've never had an easy time making close friends. I'm
fairly outgoing, but also a writer, so naturally a bit bookish
and sceptical. I covet private time, often go out to dinner
alone, and spend lots of days talking mostly to myself. I didn't
think becoming a mother would necessarily improve this. When my
first daughter was born, I actually dreaded the thought of being
forced to mingle with other mothers. I was certain my future was
full of awkward small talk and competitive nonsense, but on
this, my fifth Mother's Day as a mum, I can honestly say there
are few people as important to me as my mum friends.  That's not
to say I chose them. In picking your mum friends, the pool is
generally restricted to the music class-birthday party-
playground scene, but th