Mamas, I can’t be the only one that has experienced when a friendship fades. You know, where your once best friend, did everything in life together, becomes a social media friend that likes random photos on your page. As I get older, I value and perceive friendships so much differently than I did when I was younger. I have boiled it down to a few components on why a friendship fades, at least with my experience.
- Lifestyle: I think lifestyle plays a large role in whether or not a friendship fades. I had so many different types of friendships when I was single, versus married, and even since becoming a parent. I tend to surround myself with like-minded people, and those that are in the same stage of life. This is especially true once you have children. I look at my closest friends that I speak to on a day-to-day basis, and they are all moms of kids that are of similar age to mine, our kids attend school or church together, and just plain do life together.
- Effort: Mamas lets get real. Friendships are WORK. You have to be willing to put in the time, and our time is limited nowadays. Between the demands of being a parent, a relationship, and for some of us work, it is all so very demanding, leaving little time to ourselves some days. Friendships take effort, so you find yourself texting, snapping, calling, and scheduling girls’ nights or play dates with the ones you want to see and be with, because frankly you just don’t have the time for the fake or superficial friendships anymore.
- Location: This one is sad, but oh so true. We have sweet friends that move due to jobs, family needs, or just a family relocation. Distance can put a huge strain on things and can cause friendship to fade. Just like long distance relationships, they are harder to stay connected, and keep a steady friendship going.
Even knowing these components that can cause friendships to fade, no matter what, you still have those life long amazing friendships. The ones who stand by you whether it has been 1 day or 1 year since you last spoke. The pick up right where you left off kind of friendships. The call you have and can make at anytime when you are in need. The never fading, no matter the circumstances sisterhood that will be there no matter the lifestyle, no matter the effort, and no matter the distance.
You see mamas, those are the friendships that matter. Find them, value them, and continue to live life with them. If a friendship is destined to fade, let it. It just wasn’t meant to be in the first place.