Who has time for friends?

Double Trouble!

“Hey FaceAche….” was the opening line of the first text I received this morning. Bloody charming some might think but that’s her all over, starting with the insults before I’ve even had a coffee.

A flurry of insulting texts later, all was quiet. Then I was “poked”. That started off abusive emails.

Disgusted? No I wasn’t disgusted. Hurt? Nope. Laughing my ass off…. most definitely, because the person picking on me is the loon I like to call Natalie (actually I usually call her something else but my Dad reads this blog and I’m running on the assumption he still thinks I’m a lady).

Natalie & I both work from home full-time, have three boys between us and are very similar in how we think (scarily-so). She also calls a spade a spade and we have the kind of friendship where we can go months without speaking to each other because we are so busy and what not, and just pick up exactly where we left off.

She’s a terrible influence on me really, but has made me realise one thing – it’s great to have friends who you don’t need to see daily, text daily, ring or Facebook constantly, yet know they won’t disappear or get a sulk on if you aren’t constantly in touch (I’ve known people like this).

Friends are funny things – and after I left school, left my previous career-path and the school/office politics behind I realised that colleagues and acquaintances are not the same as friends, and as a busy Mum it can be hard to maintain relationships when you don’t have time to do all the things you have to do in a day, so it’s so important when you meet someone else who understands this or better still, is the same (this does not mean I think all of my friends should be busy Mums only!)

I’m more select with my friends nowadays but this good surely? The people I spend the little bit of free time I have outside the family are real friends, people I want to talk to & catch up with, people who are like-minded, who challenge me, who make me chuckle and whom hopefully feels the same about me. This might sound a bit cold – friendships strategically planned, but I think you know what I mean.

Don’t you?

As you’ve got older, changed jobs, or had children, do you find the way you look at the people you share your life with differently? I’d love to hear your opinion on this, some might think the same as me, some might think I’m missing out somehow and need to make more of an effort to get “out there” and meet new people, either way, please leave a comment and tell me what you think!