Not today sweetie, mommy is hungover.

Okay, let me preface what I am about to say by telling you that this sort of thing doesn't happen all that often. Those of you who know me will be less than shocked to hear me say that I like wine. Red, white, sparkly whatever. But hangovers, those are fairly rare. As a parent, a night of over indulgence is rarely worth the consequences. The 6am wake up call from the peppy (hungry) 4 year old at your bedside, staring at you expectantly. The child with endless energy and little empathy for the fact that mommy has a headache and the dry heaves.

So we learn to be responsible and to wave the waiter away after two or three respectable cocktails. We make sure to eat a nice meal with our booze, to absorb the alcohol and strengthen the reserves of our digestive system. Asleep by ten, we wake up fresh faced and ready to face the demands of parenthood.

Well usually.

Last night was, ah hem an exception. Last night things didn't go quite according to the routine. Why? Because I went out with a group of, for lack of a better word-SUPER-COOL mama friends! And we got our drink on. Oh yes we did.

A little background.... these are all brand new friends. We met because I basically placed a personal ad on the Berkeley Parent Network requesting friends. Not play dates, friends. Girlfriends. Women who I might like beyond our common bond of motherhood. I was very clear in my posting. I described me. A mama who likes her kids but craves a separate identity. A woman who might not fit the Berkeley mold. I feed my kids mac & cheese, they are allowed some tv and sometimes I go for cheap rather than organic because I am on a budget. I like shopping and I am not ashamed of it. I like to get glammed up and gossip over cocktails. There it was for the world to judge-the good, the bad and the ugly. A lovely experiment to see whom I would attract. The result...well in part, a hangover. But in full a bloody good time.

By some stroke of luck, this group is honestly awesome. We are a diverse collection, spanning age ranges and nationalities. Some of us work, some are full time mothers. Some are introverts, but most are happy to be in the lime light. All are warm, witty, funny and craving the friendship of a group of wine drinking chicks letting their hair down once and a while.

And although I have no hair to "let down" I certainly let loose. I over shared and over drank. Didn't eat enough, and laughed a ton.

Today of course was pay back. Early morning, breakfast to be served. Errands to run, and blazing sun. I craved sleep. It had to wait. I cursed myself. What was I thinking?

Would I do it again? Probably. Will I do it again tomorrow night?

Most definitely NOT.