7 Things to look for in a Friend

Friendship is the wine and the coffee for my soul. Doing motherhood without them is like watching a comedy alone (weird, gross, and not all that funny).

I don’t need the same kind of friends as I once did. I’m a lot less patient with barelyscratchthesurface small talk . I have enough mind-numbing conversations with my children (God love em). I need real in my life. I need friends that are real, and friends that I can be real around.

Here are seven things I look for in a friend:

They don’t judge. I scout out people who I can potentially bring into my home when my bathroom looks like it belongs in a gas station. (One of those ones right off the freeway that you have to ask for the key and bring a friend, so you are not murdered.) They might gasp a little because they are human, they might even bring their own hand sanitizer, but they will not judge.

THOSE are my kind of people.

They will be themselves, and let me be me. I like my friends to be themselves without apology.  WE DON’T NEED TO BE THE SAME TO BE BESTIES. I like all the flavors of friends and I don’t want to try and change each other. I have a friend that drinks decaf and makes her own yogurt. I have a friend that homeschools and hates TV. I don’t want to do any of those things…ever, and they’re fine with that. We love each other, and we also respect each other. Being different is a good thing.

Givers, not just takers. No judgement here at all. We ALL go through seasons where we need more and can’t give very much. That said, my giving capacity is chock full. (I just fed my kids breakfast and they’re all “starving”, for example.) For a friendship to have longevity at this stage in the game, it needs to be a two way street.

They are not easily offended. I already know that I’m going to screw up at some point and say something insensitive or do something hurtful. I need friends that give me the benefit of the doubt, and talk to me (so I can apologize) if I hurt their feelings. My 6yo is currently crying because my 4yo licked her pencil; I can’t do petty with my adult friends.

They don’t pretend. I am way past being impressed with a perfect life. I don’t need your dishes to be done, your butt to be tight, or your kids to be angelic. Also, small taIk is boring. I want to talk about our dreams and struggles, saggy boobs, and the gross things our kids do. Being real is my number one friend-necessity.

They see the best in others and in life. I want to keep it real, but I also want to encourage each other, and see beauty in the messiest days.

We can laugh together. I have cried with most of my close friends, but first we laughed. Laughter is what I need when the days are long and the laundry piles are endless. It’s what I need when life is hard. It is my therapy of choice.

The only way to do this is together. May we all find the ones that free us to be our best selves.

OXOX,

wonderoak

 

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13 responses to “7 Things to look for in a Friend”

  1. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 this seriously hits home for me – finding people who vibrate on the same frequency as you and not feeling like you’ve “wasted time” on others is getting more difficult the older I get. Great read!

  2. I am a straight talking person. I’ve probably offended people in the past but I’d be mortified to know I’ve really hurt someone. I need friends who are honest with me, give me an opportunity to apologize and realise that my heart is big, my acceptance of people is true, my loyalty to my friends is unwavering and I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not.
    Thank you for this great read.

  3. I really enjoyed reading this and I couldn’t agree more. Thank you!

  4. I totally agree! Being able to be the real me and have a friend feel comfortable being their real self is the truest form of friendship. Great read .

  5. I’d never survive without my friends. I just had a cathartic meltdown to my friend. She not only relieved my tension but also saved my marriage and saved me from child murder charges. All the while, NOT judging me!

  6. I ‘yes!’ and ‘Amen!’ through this whole post. The struggle is real out here! I identified with your words so much. I’m desperately needing my ‘tribe’. Can I repost?

  7. Thank you and yes for sure! As long as you link back!

  8. I met up with one of my oldest girlfriends Friday night for a drink and it was sooooooo nice and much needed. To have a conversation and not feel judged, and be able to talk openly without holding back was such a release. I didn’t know how badly I needed it. Your qualities in a friendship are on point!

  9. Yes to all of this! Please send friends who won’t judge if my bathroom resembles a gas station’s. I promise to have wine and beer and tea and coffee.

  10. Marjorie TUrner Hollman Avatar
    Marjorie TUrner Hollman

    Amen, amen and amen, sister. my kids are grown, but I have not forgotten the hard lessons I learned about having mutual friendships. YOu captured this perfectly.

  11. Preach! I have some of the most amazing friends in the world. I love that they don’t judge when my house isn’t 100% clean and understand when I can’t make it to every little thing. I love that our conversations have meaning and aren’t just gossip. I can’t imagine being a mother without the support of my friends.

  12. Hey, we should totally be buddies!

  13. One knows who a true friend is when one goes through “hell” and back.

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