There are no balloons, no crepe paper, and no paper hats. To anyone, the group of five women looks like long-time friends getting together for a regular meal at Woody’s Grille in Eden Prairie.
And they are, but for those in the know, this celebration of 25 years of friendship is special. These women met in 1997 in a Southdale ObGyn childbirth class.
Following the birth of their children, at the first group meetup, nine mother-and-baby duos met to celebrate the end of their childbirth journey and the start of their parenting journey. And though the group has dwindled slightly over the years due to geographical and life changes, this group expects another 25 years of firm friendship.
“Over the years, we have laughed, cried, celebrated, and supported each other,” shares Sandy Klein-Mirviss. “We have shared the challenges of parenting, the joys of high school and college graduations, the sadness of the deaths of our parents, and the roller-coaster of other life milestones. We want to thank Southdale ObGyn for bringing us together!”
A few times a year for the past 25 years, these friends have met to talk about their children and their lives. And although those children are grown now (Zoe, Abigail, Wesley, Tim and Emily—are, as their mothers say, “adulting in various cities across the country,”) their shared experience as moms cemented their friendship.
We think that’s pretty special.
“This is what it’s really all about!” said Nicole Dishong, Certified Nurse Midwife at Southdale ObGyn. “When I teach a new OB class at Southdale, I share many essential facts. But even more importantly, we want our moms to know they have a support system, in us, and often, in each other. The next class I teach, I’m going to ask the moms to look around the room—they might be sitting next to someone that will be at their side for the next 25 years!”
Thank you to Sandy Klein-Mirviss, Christy Conrad, Wendy Muilenburg, Karen Kemp and Diane Rose for sharing your memories with us!
