Once You Become Parents We Still Want To Hang Out With You
Recently, I read yet another ‘open letter’ from a parent explaining to their childless friends why they don’t have time for them in their lives anymore. Sigh. Seriously, parents – these letters are getting old, particularly to some of us childless friends you are directing them too.
Last week, a post on Huffington entitled, Once We Become Parents We Don’t Want to Hang Out With You Anymore (But Not for the Reasons You Think), made the rounds on social news feeds. I have to admit, I was offended. This isn’t the first time I’ve been offended by posts such as this one. Perhaps what I find most insulting are people who have kids assuming that those without kids could never imagine how much life changes. Well, yeah, we can. You know why? Because at every turn our friends with children remind us.
Here’s the other thing, parents. We know that you’re going to be busy and that life for at least the first five years of your child’s life is going to be completely consumed by them. It comes with the territory. We also know that you won’t have the same time available to commit to our friendship. We get it. We’re not idiots.
Guess what else? We also know that you’re going to start making new friends. You know, friends with kids. That’s cool. We’re happy for you, because we’re your friends too. Sometimes we know it’s just easier for you to hang out with people who have kids. We get it. We’re not idiots.
Yes, we know that you’re tired, have less money and time now. We know that life has new priorities – tiny, but infinitely important priorities. We also know that we have moved down on your priority list. We get it. We’re not idiots.
Stop assuming that you, your kids, and your wonderfully complicated and busy life can’t somehow still be a part of ours.
Stop assuming that your childless friends can’t try to empathize. Of course, we don’t know, but we can try to understand.
Stop assuming that we won’t try to accommodate you and your family so that we might see each other more often. We will because you are our friends and any child of yours gets an automatic ‘in’ to the friendship circle.
Stop assuming that we just wouldn’t want to hang out with your kids. For some of us, it’ll be our first taste of what parenting will be like, and for others it may be the only opportunity we have to spend time with children. Besides, you’re awesome which means your kid is going to be even more awesome.
And remember, the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well, we consider ourselves part of your village and part of your resources in raising your child. It’s your choice how you wish to utilize our skills and wisdom in your child’s development. We are not idiots and we may be able to actually contribute to the positive development of your child.
So in response to all those letters addressed to childless friends, such as myself (read more about why I don’t have children here), stop apologizing for being a parent. We’re not idiots. We get it.
M. xo
P.S. 7 am for breakfast sounds lovely.