This post is dedicated to all my present and past friends…
Remember Me Friend… when we used to hang out before I had kids. I didn’t have a worry in the world. Suddenly my kids entered the world and you no longer call me, you no longer text me, and you no longer invite me.
Girls night, lunches, and after-work get-togethers used to be so much fun but then my responsibilities got the best of me. Why bother right? You know that I can’t leave my babies.
To the friends that have no children, I sometimes envy your freedom as you post your fabulous worry-free life across social media. I genuinely like your pics and videos because I am that kind of friend. Just because I’m not there with you doesn’t mean I don’t want to be, it simply means I can’t.
To the friends that have older children, I sometimes wonder if you forgot what it was like when your children were younger. I want to ask you if you remember how hard it was to leave your children even for 1 hour to get a haircut let alone a girls night out.
To the friends that still find the time to call me and ask me how my life is going, I thank you! I am still your friend π
Remember me friend, how we used to laugh? Tell each other our secrets? Complain about our jobs? Gave each other advice?
Remember how times and children have changed us? I no longer have time for even myself, I have mom duties, wife duties, and work duties.
I still go out now but I do so with 3 extra people and I still get to party but I do so now with cakes, balloons, and presents and while I mostly have a one-way conversation throughout the day, I do so now with more laughter than ever.
Remember me, friend… I hope you do remember because I do, and while you no longer see us having anything in common remember why that is… remember that one day my kids will be all grown up and I will be free just like you. But I won’t be your friend!
UPDATED POST: THIS POST ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON MY FIRST BLOG FAITHFULLY ME, WHICH I HAVE REINVENTED INTO LIFE WITH KAMI.
This is a great post I don’t have children but my best friends do and we have been friends for a long while and try to meet up once in a while but we always stay connected even if we cant meet for brunch one day and we always text each other even if it’s just to say have a good day. Sometimes life changes and people drift apart no matter how much you try to stay connected things do change life changes. I am a believer that some people are meant to stay in your life and some aren’t. As for children one day when I do have my own I intend to do scrapbooks for them so I can always remember every step of the way of them being babies to adults.
Oh what a beautiful share. Remember me Friend. Times do change, people change, work changes. We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Don’t forget we are human and we need this kind of interaction. Take time to enjoy what life has given us, and go out on that girls night, children will grow and be there when you need them later.
Great post. Most of my friends have kids and our kids are the same age. I think I can relate to Hello Friend remember you have friends LOL
I love this post! I am slowly starting to lose friends that I had when I was in my younger and more free days. Parenthood took over and we had less time for one another. I hope they remember me.
I can totally relate to this as people around me moved into different lifestyles than me. We used to be so close and then we slowly drifted and I found comfort in parents that were like me.
Oh I can totally relate to this! I have 3 kids and since becoming a mom, my social life has dwindled so so much.
I’m lucky to still have my best friend of 18 years by my side and our kids are only a year different in age. My other friends, well I don’t need them anymore!
As a mom of three I definitely understand this. Even as teenagers, most of the time I am still hanging around with three extra people.
I recently wrote very similar words. I lost a lot of friends after my children just because I couldn’t be there for everyone.
Kudos for including your friends that don’t have kids. Sometimes we (sadly) forget them.
My BFF in the whole wide world does not have children and we haven’t skipped a beat since I have had my babies. I need her! lol She keeps me sane. It’s nice to not talk about kids for the bit of time I get to see her.
It is so hard to make time for real adult time. I can totally relate, especially having four kids!
I swear both sides are lonely! I had kids after most of my friends so I felt like I was excluded from a lot, now that I have a kid I have no life lol…. Ahhhh one day I will have friends again π
I think that it is difficult to maintain any friendship after kids – if they have kids or not! But, that is why I appreciate social media so much – it seems like I can find new kindred spirits π
This was really heartbreaking to me! I feel it on a personal level because I had my first baby 8 months ago! I’m working hard now to find friends in the same stage of life as me so that I’m not alone all the time!
Aw, it can be hard holding onto friendships when interests change and sometimes they drift away. Sometimes you find a new group of friends and sometimes you can feel lonely.
I’ve been on both sides of this. I can remember in my early 30’s before I had kids my husband and I saying “another one bites the dust” every time one of our couple friends announced they were expecting because we knew they wouldn’t be going out with us any more. Now I’m the one home with a three year old. π I don’t leave her often. As hard as that is I don’t think it is a decision I will regret.
I just had my second baby a few months ago. and It seems like the more kids you have, the less time you have for everything or everyone else. I learned with my first to make mommy friends, and to leave my kid-less friends behind.
XO. tutusandheels.com
I saw a big change in a few of my friendships after I had kids. I didn’t think it was going to happen but it did.
There are seasons in life. There is a time when a Mom could not do much outside due to the responsibility to their young kids, and there is a time when a Mom could enjoy more her time outside as the children grow up. Enjoy every season, and develop a friendship with friends who care enough to maintain the friendship despite all the changes happen in life.
As a kid I never had any friends so as an adult I don’t have to worry about lost friendships.
It can lonely on both sides and it is a real effort to stay friends when so much has changed.
I like that you very gracefully included your friends without children… as we always wonder what its like on the other side. Or, the grass is always greener. When, it often is not. Its interesting to think about…and I enjoyed reading your thoughts!
Karen | GlamKaren.com
I think that parents should definitely remember what it was like when their kids were little. There are challenges with any stage of development and parenting.
So recognizable… As a mother of two I can totally relate. Thanks for sharing!