Are we boring our childless friends? -

Are we boring our childless friends?

How many times do you catch yourself talking too much about your children? I do it a lot and I end up saying (sometimes out loud) "Enough baby talk, what about you?" I am convinced that it is important not to alienate my childless friends if I want to stay in touch with them. Some of them will never have kids so it's not that I can just wait for the day they will have kids! Some of them give me advice because they just read an articles in some magazine... I feel like saying "what do you know about having to manage your life plus kids... !". So I try not to say that out loud because I care for them... so I nod and say that I might try whatever they suggest. Maybe a little auto-irony on both sides will really help.

See also: friendship

Written by pia

Posted on 05/26/2007

See all posts by pia

Answers:

oh pia, lol. i am not laughing at you but with as I used to BE that single friend. i had my first child at 34 and i spent many years listening to friends and coworkers go on and on about their kids. i remember distinctily telling a coworker when i was first pregnant, to tell me if i ever became one of those mommas who could only discuss their children.
Well............here i am two children and three years later, and i am that woman. and you know what i am proud to be that woman most days, because raising these children is the hardest job i have ever had and i've worked since i was 16.
Truth is good friends will bite their tongues on both side of this issue if they value that friendship. i've moved twice since having children and let me tell you forming friendships in your thirties is difficult.
My best friend had kids first and i tried to be there for her to discuss pregnancy etc. and she always made an effort to ask about my dating life, probably even when that was the last thing on her mind. so good luck and hope this helped

posted by Andrea R. on 05/26/2007

I completely understand what you're going through, Pia. None of my friends have babies and I feel like that's all we talk about(my baby). I try to ask about them and their lives, but the conversation always come back to my son. I guess all we can do is keep trying...

posted by Stephanie on 05/30/2007

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