Friends

I have never been good at making friends. I'll never forget 12 years ago when one of my friends told me that she thought I treated her condescendingly. She was one of the smartest people I knew back then; and although I only know what she's up to through her blog and Facebook now, she probably still is one of the smartest people I know. I never intended to treat her that way, but the damage was done. Other times I felt that people would pretend to be my friends and then make up excuses if I wanted to go do something, or make jokes at my expense.

Jeremy has a small group of loyal friends that he's had for a long time. However, since we've been married he's made very few new friends. I think it's a combination of being busy with work and kids and the fact that I no longer go out of my way to try to do things with people.

I have a point to all this I promise.

Between a gun-shy mom and a dad who just isn't worried about a social life, my kids haven't made many friends. Becca says she's friends with everyone, but there aren't really very many that she's ever asked to play with. Sariah (poor kid) is like a little mini-me. She looks very much like I did, she's book smart like I was, emotional, and small. She gets teased because she's small and too smart for her own good. JD is still too young to care. He does have a buddy at church though. Those two are like little twin terrors. I should get together with his buddy's mom; but being antisocial I haven't yet.

Becca has one friend at school that she REALLY loves. She writes her friends name all over everything, calls her, asks to play with her. Her friend used to live down the street from us and walk home from school. Becca would pretty much attack her with hugs when she would see her walking down the street. We all know how energetic Becca is.

Becca's friend called two nights ago and said she was moving. She was moving that very night. She said they would have the same number, but the next day when Becca tried to call, nobody answered. She wasn't at school either. Becca is a pretty plucky kid and didn't seem upset.

I was very upset. I want my kids to be happy and have lots of friends. It's hard to watch Sariah and remember how hard it was for me to have friends. I think that Becca hides how she feels a lot of the time. It takes a lot to make her really upset. I really wanted her to be able to keep that friend, but it looked like she disappeared.

Today Becca came home from school with good news. Her friend was back in school. Her mom decided not to pull the kids out during the middle of the school year. They are going to have a sleepover this weekend.

I think I was more excited than Becca. Now if only Sariah could get a friend to come over.....