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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To lose interest in seeing friends after I had kids

213 replies

lucybm · 11/04/2026 18:17

I’m 30 with two kids (3 and 1). Before kids I had a pretty exciting social life: friends from work, school, uni, going out for dinners, drinks, all of that.

Now life is obviously very different. Most weekends we spend together as a family – parks, day trips, seeing parents, that kind of thing. It probably sounds cliché but my husband is genuinely my best friend and I really enjoy spending time with him and the kids. Of course it’s exhausting but on the whole I love it and much prefer it to my single, working life. There are weekends where one of us has plans, sometimes I’ll meet a friend for dinner or go to the theatre with my mum, or he’ll go and see friends, or have something work-related. But even when going out to, let’s say, the theatre without kids I usually prefer going with my mum or sister vs a dinner with friends.

I still have friends who suggest meeting up – brunches, dinners, birthdays etc. In theory I say yes and it sounds nice. But when the day actually comes round, I just can’t be bothered and I have FOMO about what I could be doing with family. I’d honestly rather spend that time with my family, go somewhere with the kids, or just have a relaxed day together.

I’ve been invited to a 30th this weekend and all I can think is I’ll miss bedtime, miss dinner with my family, and I don’t really want to be there chatting. I’d much rather stay home or do a day trip / overnight staycation with family. Help isn’t an issue - my mum and MIL both happily babysit (mainly for date nights with my husband), we have a nanny-housekeeper too.

I don’t feel lonely and I don’t feel like anything is missing. If anything, it feels like quite a short phase whilst the kids are little, they actually want to be with me, and I know in a few years they’ll be off doing their own thing.

But at the same time I’ve basically lost all interest in seeing friends, and I don’t know if that’s normal or if I’m becoming a bit closed off.

AIBU to just not want to socialise and prefer being with my family at this stage?

OP posts:
FrodoBiggins · 11/04/2026 19:56

Pistachiocake · 11/04/2026 19:54

No, it's normal to want to be with your family. Some friends will try to make you act like a permanent teenager, but you shouldn't feel bad about your natural wish.

Sad that you think spending time with adult women is "behaving like a teenager".

FrodoBiggins · 11/04/2026 19:55

JaneFondue · 11/04/2026 19:52

But you could leave the kids with your nanny housekeeper or your two sets of parents and go for a quick coffee with your friends so they don't have to endure your toddlers, no?

But then she'd miss out on the "family staycation" (which is assume is just hanging out at home with the same people she sees all day every day)

Pistachiocake · 11/04/2026 19:54

No, it's normal to want to be with your family. Some friends will try to make you act like a permanent teenager, but you shouldn't feel bad about your natural wish.

FrodoBiggins · 11/04/2026 19:54

Are you for real?

"I’ll be mildly bored after hearing for more than 5 minutes about their annoying boss or the stress of organising a hen do"

Sounds like you think your life is more important than theirs so maybe you're doing everyone a favour by not going. Shame though. It's nice to have friends. Staying at home all day with your nanny and your kids might get boring after a decade and don't expect your friends to want to listen to your problems (your life will not be perfect forever. Noone's is) when you couldn't be bothered with them.

JaneFondue · 11/04/2026 19:52

But you could leave the kids with your nanny housekeeper or your two sets of parents and go for a quick coffee with your friends so they don't have to endure your toddlers, no?

lucybm · 11/04/2026 19:48

@Boxiboxi21
Most of my friends don’t have kids yet. I guess the friends do care about me and my life, but to an extent. Of course they won’t find a brunch where my toddler is constantly trying to spill their babyccino, can’t sit still for long, says they’re bored, where I’m getting distracted every few minutes passing a wipe etc as fun as they would if they had my full attention, of course they’d rather discuss non-child focused topics than hear about weaning (or whatever else). And that’s understandable. Equally I don’t want to give my child an iPad to watch the whole time (if I was to bring the children) so I’d rather they did interrupt me than stare at a screen for hours.

Meanwhile, if I’m honest, I’ll be mildly bored after hearing for more than 5 minutes about their annoying boss or the stress of organising a hen do. I’ll be thinking of my kids, wondering how well they’ve eaten dinner, that maybe the scooter is getting a bit small or whether we should try those new swimming lessons across the road.

I almost prefer to stay in touch by text but as soon as the suggest a meet up it feels like a chore to add to the list.

OP posts:
KimTheresPeopleThatAreDying · 11/04/2026 19:48

Be careful you don’t look up one day and realise that the world of work and all your friends and your kids and maybe your husband have all moved on without you.

Waftaround · 11/04/2026 19:47

lucybm · 11/04/2026 19:41

@ItsOnlyHobnobs
Not working, I’m a SAHM!

I think you should be very careful in defining your entire life around your husband and children and immediate family.

It might feel it fulfills you at the moment but it won’t always be like this and you might regret it.

I also feel quite sad for you that you don’t see the importance of good friendships and sharing your life with people other than those you live with. I have new and old friends. My oldest close friend has been in my life for more than 30 years. Yes I’ve had friendships break down but most are so special and so important to me.

FrodoBiggins · 11/04/2026 19:44

lucybm · 11/04/2026 19:41

@ItsOnlyHobnobs
Not working, I’m a SAHM!

Yes that was pretty obvious I think. You've become a bit institutionalised within the family unit. Are you planning on going back to work? That might help.

amargaritaplease · 11/04/2026 19:42

You actually sound rather insufferable so I don’t suppose it will be a loss to these friends

lucybm · 11/04/2026 19:41

@ItsOnlyHobnobs
Not working, I’m a SAHM!

OP posts:
lucybm · 11/04/2026 19:40

@HealthyChoicesHard
I didn’t mean anything traumatic by it – just what I’ve observed growing up. Between my parents’ circle and my older siblings’ friends (I’m the youngest of four), I’ve seen quite a few situations where people end up betraying each other fairly easily, especially when money or personal interests are involved.

So it’s not that I’ve personally been hurt, it’s more that I’ve seen it happen around me enough times to feel a bit cynical about it.

OP posts:
FrodoBiggins · 11/04/2026 19:33

JaneFondue · 11/04/2026 19:21

Some of my friends were like this. All very ' my husband is my best friend" and ' I am happy with my little family". Then the husbands moved on, the kids moved away and they were like " let's meet for lunch!"

But I had moved on too.

Yep. One of my former best friends missed a big birthday of our joint best mate because she went away for a weekend in UK with her "perfect little family" (booked it knowing they'd be a clash) and same friend barely checked in with me when I lost a parent. We don't see her any more, although she's tried to join back in. Fuck that.

JaneFondue · 11/04/2026 19:30

And I absolutely do not agree that only family endures! Look at all the MN posters who are NC with parents. How do you know that won't be you?

JaneFondue · 11/04/2026 19:27

My Ds was a holy terror when young. I was exhausted with lack of sleep. But I still kept meeting my friends, maybe not as often but as much as I could manage. I am glad of them now my DC have grown up and have no time for me. Female friendships are a great joy. Especially in middle age.
.

MaryBeardsShoes · 11/04/2026 19:27

Just don’t expect to pick up where you left off with them OP. God, I would be bored out of my mind with such a small circle. But you do you!

Ohhhwell · 11/04/2026 19:23

JaneFondue · 11/04/2026 19:21

Some of my friends were like this. All very ' my husband is my best friend" and ' I am happy with my little family". Then the husbands moved on, the kids moved away and they were like " let's meet for lunch!"

But I had moved on too.

Ive seen this happen many many times.

JaneFondue · 11/04/2026 19:21

Some of my friends were like this. All very ' my husband is my best friend" and ' I am happy with my little family". Then the husbands moved on, the kids moved away and they were like " let's meet for lunch!"

But I had moved on too.

beasmithwentworth · 11/04/2026 19:20

You have a strange attitude to friendships! The type of life long friendships that you describe absolutely do exist. I love my girlfriends and I care deeply about them. You talk about your friends as if they are there for your benefit alone and can be picked up and put down at your leisure. Yes of course it’s great that your partner is your best friend and you live spending time with your DCs as most people do. But as others have said. Be careful. It’s sounding like you are losing your identity. Do you work? This is a period of time. The poster earlier said she became widowed unexpectedly. Ok so it’s not common but it does happen. As does divorce. There are no guarantees. I think you or being pretty short sighted and I think you are lucky to have the friendships you do.

NerrSnerr · 11/04/2026 19:11

Be careful making your husband and children your whole identity. They’re all their own people and your children will grow up and won’t need you as much and your husband could leave you tomorrow.

MammaTo · 11/04/2026 19:05

I have little ones the same age and it is all consuming at the moment and I do love spending time together as a family, but this won’t last forever. There’s a lot of life left to live once kids have grown up and although I do love my OH, there’s something special about female friendships and i think there a really valuable relationship to invest in.

Everlil · 11/04/2026 19:01

lucybm · 11/04/2026 18:34

@HealthyChoicesHard I honestly don’t know if I’d be sad.

I’m probably quite cynical, but I don’t really believe in lasting friendships the way people describe them. From what I’ve seen growing up, people can and do betray each other for selfish reasons, money, convenience – whatever it is.

To be honest, the only truly solid relationship I’ve seen is between parents and children. Everything else feels a lot more conditional.

So I think that’s why I don’t feel a strong pull to maintain friendships now but of course maybe I’ll feel different in the future.

I’m sorry you haven’t had fulfilling friendships. My husband is my best friend and I love my children, but I have very strong friendships with others and I love going out with my friends.

FrodoBiggins · 11/04/2026 18:57

You sound like quite a bad friend so maybe it's no loss to you or them then. But just a word of warning, my friends (those who had children are mostly in teens now) remember those of us who couldn't be bothered with us when they were in their little bubble. We don't see them any more. 50% of couples divorce, all children grow up, parents (and partners, and siblings) sadly die... do you want to just have your sister and noone else when you're 50 because you couldn't be bothered?

EmpressaurusKitty · 11/04/2026 18:53

Don’t be the person who always cancels at the last minute.

People will stop inviting you, whether you say no every time or say yes & always cancel. But the second is much more annoying & unfair on the inviters.

Annecydrone · 11/04/2026 18:51

I’m the opposite - I really valued socialising that didn’t centre around kids all the time. You also need to be careful, this all consuming stage won’t last forever and when kids have a bit of independence you’ll need your friends again.

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