It’s so easy for new moms to be distracted, so it’s no shock that maintaining friendships can be complicated, especially with a newborn. You would think in this age of technology, maintaining friends when you have a newborn would be simple, but it’s not. I was lucky, I had friends who wanted to see my sweet-faced newborn once a week, something I treasured. Those few moments gave me that little bit of adult conversation I didn’t know I truly needed.
I know first hand that life with a newborn can be exhausting and hectic, so the last thing us mamas want is to go out when we could be sleeping. Though I promise you that getting out and seeing your girlfriends is not only great for you but for your newborn!
Make the First Move
Maintaining friendships with a newborn is kinda like dating, you have to make the first move. The last thing your friends what to do is bother you, and naturally, they’ll assume you’ll contact them when you’re ready to leave your newborn bubble. So, don’t be afraid to reach out and make plans. Trust me, they’re anxiously waiting to meet that sweet baby of yours.
Plans Don’t Have to Mean Leaving the Baby
Like I said, your friends are anxiously waiting to meet your baby and snuggle him or her, so bring them along if you’re leaving the house or get your friends to come over. I love it when my friends visit me at home, it’s so nice that they are eager to help me with all things baby related. It is also nice to bring your baby along for errands and visits. The best part of bringing the baby out is that he or she gets to meet new people and they get comfortable with someone other than you holding them.
Plan a Girls Night
Remember how I said maintaining friendships is kinda like dating? While planning outings is like planning dates. Don’t be afraid to go out for a girls night, you have a partner who is more than capable of watching the baby! It can feel like they’re not ready yet, but I promise you they are. I was so nervous about leaving my baby alone for the night without me when I went to visit Brooklyn overnight. Still, the next morning, everything was fine, other than a slight incident involving a dirty diaper, and I was feeling refreshed from a fun night with my girlfriends.
Leave the House Once a Week
I have made it my mission to leave the house once a week with my girlfriends. This not only is great for my mentality, but it helps me feel like I am doing something fun for myself. It forces me out of my usual relaxing attire and to put on a little bit of makeup and feel good. Whether its running errands or just going to Starbucks and Homesense, it’s still fun. I get to catch up with my girlfriends or mom while knocking things off my to-do list.
The newborn stage only lasts so long, so soak up every minute, but don’t let friendships fall through the cracks. Let them in on the experience, so they can enjoy it with you. They want to spend time with you and the newborn, and they’re more than willing to help out where they can, so let them! Remember, friendships are not the only thing you can let fall through the cracks, so check out this article on how to balance your relationship with your partner when you have a newborn (here).
