I’ll never forget the unique sense of isolation I felt after I had my first kid when a dear (childfree) friend tried to engage me in a conversation about mutual friend drama. It wasn’t that I was no longer interested in the friend drama. I love a mess! It’s that the interest felt like phantom-limb interest. SO many things change when you become a mom, many of which are more or less expected (sleep, attention, leisure time, priorities). But there’s a particular heartbreak to realizing that your friendships with non-moms will also change.
© 2025 Sara Petersen
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