Have you lost a friend due to children?

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   Stacie Lposted 9 years ago

   Have you lost a friend due to children?
   
   Long time friendships are challenging enough but when some friends became parents, and you didn't, did you feel abandoned?

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2. 81

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   No, I've never lost any friends due to them having children. Maybe it's different for men though.
   I am a Godfather to one of my best friend's sons. Having said that I could see why people might gravitate towards spending more time with those who are in the same boat as them.
   Couples usually hang out with other couples and those with children probably attend each other's playdates, birthday parties, or take turns hosting sleep overs and baby sitting.
   It's also not uncommon for their friends without children to pull away from them because they're tired of hearing about every single thing the children do.
   It's good to maintain friendships with people who are where you are regardless of your status. Have some single friends, childless friends, married friends, or couple friends. This way you'll have friends to socialize with.

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      Stacie Lposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I think you are right when it comes to male friendships.

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3. 68

   baybpnkposted 9 years ago

   Yes I have. I have friends that I saw a lot before they had children, and then after they had their children, they became less and less likely to be able to spend time with their friends. Perhaps that is because my friends who have children are mothers who either do not work and a re full time mothers, or mothers who also work and have to balance the work life with home life, husband/father life, free time, and time with their children. I feel like a lot of the time friendships get cast aside, as they should when put up between family/children/husbands/etc, and I am okay with that. We do find time occasionally to see each other, a few months or years in between dates, but it happens still.
   I never felt abandoned by them because I knew they had more important responsibilities as parents or co-parents. Once you have children your life is no longer only yours.

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   1. 88

      Stacie Lposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Once you have children your life is no longer only yours. Yes,this is so true!

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   Kierstin Gunsbergposted 9 years ago

   Yes, definitely. But I completely understand. As a mother myself, my friendships do have to take a backseat to my responsibility for my children, my husband, and my home. After all that I need a bit of time for myself too! My friends are important to me, but hopefully they understand, and if not, maybe we'll reconnect as my kids gets older.

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   1. 88

      Stacie Lposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree that friendships do tend to take a backseat when you are a parent.

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