5 Ways to Make Friendships in Motherhood

Friendships in Motherhood

July 31, 2025

As a mom, it’s easy to lose yourself in the day to day giving of yourself to others. I’ve struggled with having close friendships since motherhood, for a number of reasons. In different walks of life, motherhood can show you who your true friends really are.

When it comes to rediscovering yourself- apart from family, kids, work, and motherhood – knowing who you are is enhanced by great friendships.

Friends can make you feel more alive. More yourself.

Friends push you to see beyond the monotony and make it easier to explore and try new things.

Friends lend a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand, a sounding board.

Friends grow you as a person, and as a mother.

Philippians 2:3 Think of others as better than yourselves. It’s hard to make friends with people as you get older because you’re no longer forced in the same class or dorm room to do life with the same people on the daily. Outside of possible coworkers, there are not many places where you are in continuous contact with people in the same walk of life as you. This verse in Philippians is a call to humble ourselves. Making friends is about being open to friendships with others that might NOT be quite like you…and that’s GOOD! If we think of others as better than ourselves, not in a way where we put ourselves down, but in a way where we are willing to serve others and listen to them, we will find that other people are pretty darn interesting. We all have a unique story to tell.

Just as a friendship with God grows through communication, friendship with others grows through conversation, too. Get good at communicating. Start by asking questions! We love to talk about ourselves. Facilitate an environment where you give someone the gift of listening to them talk about themselves. Then wait for that opportunity to be reciprocated.

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Lean on friends. Grow together. But remember, Scripture tells us that IRON sharpens IRON. The key is to be a high-value person sharpened by another high-value person. We don’t always start there. At times we need to let friendships go as we move on and continue to sharpen and be sharpened by others. A great friendship is one that is mutually edifying. Wood does not sharpen iron. In fact, wood dulls iron. 1 Corinthians 15:33 states that bad company corrupts good character. Knowing when a friendship has run it’s course is just as important.

Making friends is awkward. To have a friend means to be a friend first. Don’t wait for others to make the first move. Step outside of your comfort zone. PRACTICE hospitality. Making and keeping friends takes intention and practice.

Places to meet other moms: school events, sport events, church, playground, groups, classes, library programs. Unfortunately, you can’t make friends sitting at home avoiding socialization and willing a random phone call from someone lovely into existence (I’ve tried).

Get out there. Interact. Be friendly. Proverbs 18:24 KJV says a man that has friends must show himself friendly.

Working on this with you,

Amanda