Balancing friendships with being a wife and mother.
Recently I was listening to one of Mattie Jame's podcast episode Mattieologie ( if you haven't listened to any of her podcasts I highly recommend them, especially for new bloggers she shares many tips to run a successful blog) Anyway back to the podcast I listened to, she speaks on how balancing motherhood, marriage and owning a business has made her a bad friend. After listening to it, it got me thinking and I realized she was kind of talking about my life currently. I think after I became a mom I went from being an okay friend to a terrible one. I will be honest I already sucked at keeping in touch and reaching out to people, but something about being a mom, wife and working a full time job really makes you forget you had friends in the first place. I feel like my life revolves around those three roles, and when I do finally have some free time I would really love to spend time with friends (I really would), but me time just sounds so much better.
I have learnt to stay in touch whether it be via calling (I really don't remember how to do this though) texting and good old social media (thanks to so many social media outlets know my life has gotten quite a bit easier lol). I get so upset that my girlfriends make plans and don't even try to include me. But I think if the tables were turned and I constantly invite someone out, and they are always giving some type of excuse you bet I will not be inviting them anywhere anymore. So by reaching out I at least I am still doing my part, yes I sure as heck can't be out in them streets every weekend for happy hour or be on every single girls' trip but, I am still trying to catch up and see how they are doing and they can see the effort on my end.
I am trying very hard to actually make time, its very easy to say "oh I have so much going on....." and constantly flake out. Like the other day, some girlfriends were in town and had invited me out for drinks, honestly I went back on forth about how I really just wanted to stay home on a Friday night and do nothing instead just because I was tired from a long week and i have become very lame anyway , but honestly as much as I make scarifies for my husband and daughter I should be able to make a few sacrifices for good friends as well. I ended up going to happy hour for a few hours, and had fun and it was a better idea than just seating home and doing nothing.
Plain ole Communicating why I can't make certain things and try to explain why I can't do certain things. Obviously my friends understand my life is at a different place than it was 5 years or even 2 years ago so they will understand me canceling or going MIA certain times. But as a good friend I have to understand that, I can't always just flake on someone and expect them to ALWAYS understand. If the tables were turn I would see it as I am not really that important of a friend to this person which is why they can't make any time for me. So just explaining sometimes and giving a back story, I believe a person is more understanding because they get the full picture.
All in all there have been plenty of times where I wish I could have been out with the girls till whatever time, or I am completely missing the inside joke because I wasn't on that trip but if there is one thing I have learnt is that my life is EXACTLY where its meant to be. Its all a matter of balance! I would love to hear how you all balance this part of your life, please let me know in the comments.
thank you so much Layla i appreciate you reading.
finding my balance was a struggle for me too after I gave my birth. Staying positive and putting more effort in reaching out definitely helped. Great post!
These are great tips! I just had an experience this weekend where it would have been much easier to skip the outing with a friend, but after going I was so happy that I did!
Great post! It's so hard to try to do it all. I'm still trying to find the balance myself.
Great post and I can totally relate! Also, I adore that last photo. Too cute!
A beautiful one from you again Tola! I love reading you and thank you for sharing kindness through your writings, looove!