Life Without Baby

filling the silence in the motherhood discussion

It Got Me Thinking…About Nurturing Friendships

A nearby friend recently posted something on Facebook , a personal ad of sorts, which included…

Seeking friends to:

  • go on hikes
  • talk about books
  • go to the occasional chick-flick matinee
  • plan how we might help victims of the recent fires and floods
  • have conversations about how we might make the world a better place

Reading it at my desk, I wanted to raise my hand and shout, “ME! Pick me!” Except for one small problem: She’d labeled her request:

Seeking Mom Friends

I would love to do all of the activities on her list with her, and the great irony of being excluded from her search is that I—unlike her friends who are moms, who she complained were bailing on her because they are too busy with their kids—I have the time and energy to do them with her.

For about a minute I thought about replying anyway and suggesting that maybe a renewed friendship with me was worth nurturing. But then I read further down the list about how she also wants to talk about mom stuff with these friends.

You know what, she’s on her own.

Kathleen Guthrie Woods is mostly at peace with her childless status.

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Whaaaatt? If I were you, I’d be tempted to contact her anyway. Let her know which bits appeal. Even though you’re not a Mum, you might have good mom advice. Her response will let you know whether time with her would be well spent or not.

  2. I’d unfriend her. You’re saying renew the friendship which suggests the friendship has lapsed. Not all friendships are recoverable. Sometimes we keep people on our “friends list” Long after the expiration date for that friendship has past. Maybe it’s time to do some housekeeping.

  3. It’s so ridiculous that she’s missing out on doing all those cool things with you. And that she thinks that a friend has to be all things to her, rather than taking people as they come. Her loss. Sigh.

    • I agree, Mali. Kathleen’s friend is missing out big time thinking that she must have a “mom friend.” All of us have something unique to offer to a relationship, if only people will be open…

  4. It sounds like she wants everyone on her friend list that isn’t a mom to “unfriend” her because they are not persons she would enjoy spending time with.