How to Maintain Friendships Once You’re a Mom

Like other moms, you probably had good intentions when it comes to maintaining friendships with your girlfriends after the baby arrived. But kids can change the dynamics of all relationships. However, you can act to nuture your frienships without neglecting your responsibilities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Commit to frequent contact. This could mean talking on your cell with your best pal on your drive to or from work or sending “you’ll never believe what happened at dinner last night” e-mails during the day.
2. Plan a shopping excursion. You might not be able to spend all day deciding between the red mini-skirt and the black cocktail dress, but you still have to buy new clothes for infants who seem to grow out of one size every month, gifts for friends and family and even stamps for bills. Do it with your girlfriends.
3. Hit the gym together. You want to get your pre-baby body back, and you’re more likely to work out when you commit to doing it with a partner. Park the kids in the gym’s daycare (most of the larger ones have them), and catch up while you’re working off the baby weight.
4. Get together with the kids. Your local children’s museum or library offers kids programming that will hold their interest while you talk quietly in the background. Or pick the girlfriend with the largest basement, let the kids play together and the adults can sip coffee (or something stronger) nearby.
5. Clean together. Start with one house and then move on to the other. It’ll take the same amount of time as cleaning one house alone, but you’ll be doing the task while bonding with your friend.
6. Pull a “Sex and the City.” Ask the husbands to watch the little ones every Sunday morning so you and your friends can grab brunch and discuss the latest details of your lives.

Tips & Warnings

• If your husband balks at pulling kid duty while you’re having fun with the girls, ask a babysitter to watch your kids during brunch. It gives your husband time to recharge, too.