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Let’s start by stating the obvious here: there will be changes in
the dynamics between your child-free friends and you. Whether
they are trying to get pregnant themselves or still on the hunt for a
husband, the life changes you are going through as a mama-to-be
could be stirring up all sorts of feelings inside your child-free friends.
Just because you have a tiny human growing inside of you and
your priorities are shifting doesn’t mean you don’t have time for
your old friends in your life. In fact, it’s your child-free friends who
might be the ones to help you out when you’re deep in the woods
with your newborn. Think about it, another mama friend is not
going to have the time to run over for dinner while your partner is
working late to help give you a hand with bathing baby.
It may take some extra effort on your part to make your friends
feel included in your new role as mama-to-be and eventually
mama. Pregnancy still allows you the time to indulge in
hour long convos about your best friend’s atrocious blind
date the night before or her promotion at work, but once
the baby comes you’ll barely have time to brush your teeth.
My childless friends are acting
weird around me now. Are
these friendships doomed?
You might want to have a heart to heart with your non-parent
friends and tell them how much they mean to you and how much
you appreciate their support. They’ve showed up for your baby
shower, listened to you complain about your swollen boobs and
your mother-in-law’s whining fits. Let them know things might be
tricky at first as you try and figure out this whole parenting thing,
but your friendship means a lot and you don’t want to lose them
in this process. Your childless friends might be afraid of losing
you and could be giving you space to protect their own feelings.
Reassure them they’re needed and bestow a fun title on them like
‘Tata’ which is a French version of aunt or ‘Unks’ and give them a
special role once baby arrives.
“
Tell t h em how much
they m ean to you
”