Y’all. It is official. Having a close group of girlfriends is good for your health. Science (and the internet) say it, so it must be true. Having a close group of friends can make you feel less lonely, help you cope with bad experiences in your life, reduce stress, and boost your mood and overall happiness, among other physical benefits.

If this is true, then why is hard for women to make these connections? For me, I used to feel a lot of guilt for making time for friends. And making friends as a parent is not always easy.

I am proud of my tribe, or as I affectionally call them, my inner circle. The friend pictured in this blog post has been my Best Running Buddy (BRF) for almost a decade. We joke that we can solve any world problem, including life with teenage girls, in a 3 mile run or walk.

When I have good news, work drama (which there is usually a lot of), or really bad news, I can pick up the phone and call or text my inner circle and know they will be super supportive. But I keep my inner circle small on purpose. As a parent, I sometimes have a hard time trusting other moms. I have been burned a few too many times. I tell myself this does not mean I cannot make new friends, but it does reinforce the idea of keeping my inner circle small.

Recently, a student new to my kids’ school’s mom asked me if I wanted to get coffee or lunch. My initial thought was that I did not have the time, did I want to try and invest in a new friendship, etc. But I decided to take a chance and agreed.

So fellow moms, find your tribe and get together with those friends regularly. Without guilt. Science says it is good for you.

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