I have a new crop of friends in my residential area. We all have kids and spend weekends BBQing, drinking a beer or two, cheering our kids on at soccer or baseball — then calling it a night pretty early and crashing in our beds, because we are exhausted from taking care of our kids all day long, LONG.
But I really started to miss my friends, mainly from NYC, and I’m trying to be much more proactive about seeing them and maintaining our friendships. Even though I can’t enjoy a 9 p.m. sushi dinner with them in the city, I know there are tons of other things we can do to stay connected. When I was a little girl Girls Scouts taught me: Make New Friends. Keep The Old. One Is Silver. And The Other Is Gold. Follow my tips to keep your friendships ripe — they work for me!
1. Plan ahead. No one expects a mom to drop everything and hit up a happy hour at last minute’s notice. So, if you know the girls at the office go to happy hour twice a month, aim to stop by at one for an hour. You don’t need to drink or eat a lot. Have a cocktail watered down with soda water and order a yummy app. Go home feeling refreshed to tackle homework and bedtime.
2. No sitter? No problem. Ask your friend if you can do lunch instead of dinner and pick a diner. Why a diner? They notoriously serve booze and have everything on the menu, including chicken fingers, crayons, and coloring sheets for your kid. It’s a win-win!
3. Text! Did something just remind you of your friend and you got that warm, fuzzy pang of nostalgia in your gut? Don’t feel sad or bad or let the moment pass — share the feeling. As your kid plays on the jungle gym, send a quick text to your girlfriend: “Just ate gelato with little Jack and it reminded me of the time we ate Ciao Bella every night the summer of 2005.” It’s a nice way to feel connected!
Do you have any tips on keeping your friends close? Please share!
