How To Maintain Friendships After Children Have Entered The Equation

The best way to keep friends during the tumult of child-rearing years is to not force friendship, but do cultivate what you truly have in common with your friends. For instance, if you both have kids, you’ll find yourselves at birthday parties, PTA meetings and Little League games for years to come. But if one of you doesn’t have kids, and the other of you does, the activities will require a little more cultivation. It’s easy to drop friends without any malicious intent because a child-rearing lifestyle can become so different from a child-free lifestyle, but it’s very important for parents with kids to maintain some time without the children around, and their child-free kids are the perfect people to do this with.

– Meals are always nice and easy ways to keep up with friends because you have to eat. So make lunch or dinner dates every month or every other month with your child-free friends.

– Movies are also great activities to do with your child-free friends. There are always “chick flicks” that your husband or boyfriend doesn’t really want to see — or “warrior movies” that your wife or girlfriend will see under protest only that are better viewed with a same sex friend.

– Grooming is easily forgotten when kids come along because there isn’t time and sometimes money is tight. But allow yourself a manicure, pedicure, massage or facial with a friend on a regular basis. This is actually one of those activities that feels like a splurge but brings you lots of extra energy and good will that you didn’t think it would simply because you’re taking care of yourself and having a good time with your friend.