Friend Zone: How To Be A Good Mum Friend

"I'll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour), I'll be there for you, (like I’ve been there before)!" Can you name that tune?

Once you have a circle of mum friends, you might feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. However, to ensure they stick around, you’ll have to put the work in and be a good mum friend. In every successful friendship there must be some give and take, so how do you make sure you’re a giver, not just a taker?

Check-In Time

Sometimes you and your friends have a million things to talk about, and sometimes you’re too tired to even string a sentence together. If you feel like you haven’t heard from a friend in a while, drop them a text to check everything’s okay. Even if they’re 100% fine, they’ll appreciate the fact that you were thinking about them.

Pretend Play

Kids love pretend play; help them build a den, a castle or a boat and they’ll be shipped off to another world. When it comes to adult friendships though, it’s important to keep it real. While social media has its positive points, it can get people down if it looks like everyone but them is "winning at lif". When you’re chatting to your mum friends, a "warts and all" approach is what will be appreciated the most.

Playdates

Playdates are a great way for mums and kiddies alike to enjoy spending time together. However, they have another benefit too. If you have a mate who has an important appointment coming up, why not offer to host a playdate so they’re not stuck for someone to mind the kids. The great thing is that they’ll want to return the favour, so you’ll be sorted if you’re struggling with childcare in the future too.

Favour Of The Month

Sometimes when the children are being a handful or if one of the kids is ill, it can be tricky to even leave the house. If you know that one of your mum friends is under pressure, offer to pick them up some groceries or nip to the pharmacy for them. Little gestures can mean the world when it feels like everything is against you. And you don’t even need to have a reason; next time you’re at the local coffee shop, double your order and treat them to a takeaway coffee. Sometimes it’s the small things that really lift people’s spirits.

Jennie Dennehy

Jennie Dennehy is Mama to two gorgeous boys and is a Writer and Blogger. Her life is full of laughs and Lego and she’s always longing for a hot, frothy coffee.

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