My question for you all is "How many good friends do you have in your life?" I'm talking about friends who you see on a regular basis, friends that you'd drop everything if they called and needed something, someone you can share what's going on in your life without fear of judgement, etc...

I've discovered recently that maintaining friendships are MUCH harder than they used to be. I used to have MANY people who I considered to be true friends but recently realized that number has decreased to one hand really.

By Jackie on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 03:44 pm:

Thats a hard question. I have several good friends. Though, I don't see them on a regular basis. I probably talk to them on the phone more then anything.My closest and longest friend lives in a different state. We talk on the weekends. I know if we lived in the same state we would see each other quite often.

It seems now a days, people are always so busy.

By Debbie on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 04:02 pm:

I have two very good friends that live out of state, actually, they live 1/2 way across the country. I talk to them on the phone, but we only see each other once every year or two.

I have about five good friends that live here in town. Two I see at least once a week, we have lunch every Wednesday. They live in my subdivision. The other three, I see a lot too because our kids are also friends. In fact 2 of the families, we see alot because our 3 families have boys the exact same age, and they all play baseball together. Dh coaches. I feel very fortunate to have 2 other families that all the adults, and the kids get along. We have cookouts, go to the pool, and do a lot together. We always have a great time with them.

It is a lot harder to maintain friendships as you get older, your kids get older, and you get busier. I make sure to take the time to maintain the friendships that I have. I don't know what I would do without my girlfriends.

By Jtsmom on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 04:55 pm:

I only have one that I think would drop what they are doing to help me out if I needed it. But I don't see her very often. Its hard for us to get together since I have young kids and hers are grown. I can't always pay for a babysitter for us to get together.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 05:16 pm:

I have one REALLY good friend and a lot of friends on the next level. Our kids are 2 older than mine and one in between the two of mine. We get together as frequently as we can, but sometimes that's not as often as we'd like. We used to get together every Friday, for supper, but with weird schedules, it sometimes is on Saturday, if we are all available.

By Tarable on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 06:05 pm:

I have one.. I dont' see her nearly as much as I did before she had her youngest 2 (6 and 4) but we talk on the phone and email a lot. Sometimes it seems weird that I never see her and she lives less than 2 miles away from be but she is buy with little ones and a Jr in high school and mind are both in middle school right now and I work full time so there just isn't as much time as there used to be.. I do try to go to about 4 or 5 of her oldest's soccer games every season so I can catch up a little plus my kids like going to the high school games at the big stadium.

Weird.. I am actually having lunch with her tomorrow which means i will see her for the first time in about 6 weeks. (and the first time kid free in probably years)

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 12:31 am:

I think it's not only harder to maintain friendships as you get older, but much, much harder since I became a SAHM. It also made me realize how many people were actually "work" friends, and not really good friends - the kind I would do things with on a regular basis, call for help, etc.

My dearest friends are 2, none of which live near me. One lives on the other side of the country. We don't talk often, but when we do, it's like old home week - as if no time has passed. We have been friends for 20 years one and about 10 for the other. I got burned by a best friend several years ago, and since then, I'm very cautious about getting close. I tend to keep things on the "next level" that Dawn mentioned. As far as dropping everything, I don't think I have a friend like that. My family would do that though, and that's who I count on when in need. (Parents and siblings)

I do wish I had more close girlfriends, but all I really think about is getting burned again. That's terrible but true for me. It would be great to have Sex & the City-type friends. I also think it's hard when everyone is so busy. Mostly I have "next level" friends - more for the social part and not anything too deep.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 08:15 am:

Well, I have a group of about 5 girlfriends that I still see from high school. We TRY to get together once a month but it doesn't usually work out very well. Even though they have been my friends since kindergarten, I really don't feel like I can tell them much without being judged. It's a sad statement really. But that's just how they are. I love them, they are fun to hang out with but they are girls and they are catty. So it's actually kind of a good thing we only see each other every month or so. I guess they are more of the "next level" type of friendship. I really don't think any of them would drop what they are doing to come help me with a problem or anything like that.

I feel closer and more comfortable with my neighbor whom I met only a few years ago. We probably just have more in common, meaning we both have kids. Her son and mine are best friends. Her husband and mine are good friends.


I'd have to say my best friends are my sister (4 hrs away from me but we talk very often) and my husband.

By Marcia on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 01:24 pm:

I have had the same best friend for 23 years. We live about an hour apart, but only see each other a few times a year. We talk often. She is someone that I can tell anything to, and someone who would help me out if I ever needed it. She did the ultimate - she found my first daughter for me. We have seen each other through extreme ups and downs, as well as the normal day to day stuff.

I have 2 very close internet friends, both whom I have met several times, who fall into the same category. They know everything about me, and I them, and we help each other the best we can from a distance.

I have a group of internet friends who have been together for over 10 years. We have been through everything together, and have been a real support group for one another.

I also have a neighbourhood group of friends. There are several couples, including my sister and her hubby, who get together a few times a year. A lot of them even went on our big family cruise last year. While I see them more often than the others, they don't know the deep down details of my life.

My mom is also someone I need to mention. I speak to her a few times a day, see her or go out with her several times a week, and she would do ANYTHING for me. We have a great relationship!

By Dramamamma on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 03:42 pm:

Thank you everyone for your answers... I've recently had some issues with some close friends and have been blaming myself for all the happenings. I'm realizing that friendships ARE hard work and sometimes just not worth it unfortately. Sometimes you have to stop and reevaulate what it (the friendship) does for you and if it is a healthy one.

I, like Marcia, can say that my mom is my best friend along with my younger sister. I feel blessed to be able to say that about my family because I know many who aren't able to say that. I have two close friends now that I consider to be my other closest friends. One, I talk to weekly and see monthly usually and another who now that we live closer we are able to see each other more, we do talk just about daily though.

By Momofmax on Friday, September 26, 2008 - 05:11 pm:

I have lots of friends but my mom is probably the one I'm closest to. I had a really good friend but she moved away and we haven't been too good at keeping in touch. It's just different when you see each other everyday (our kids were little and we watched them play outside everyday). I have lots of friends on that "next level". Ones I wouldn't necessarily go to with EVERY problem. But we have lots of fun together! One thing I have learned is that I have to make friends on my own and not just hang out with the mom's of the kids my son hangs out with. That's easy to do when they are little and a parent tags along to playdates, parties, etc. I have some good friends from those days but as ds has gotten older and they have lost interest in each other, it's difficult for the moms to get together.