Nurturing Friendships In The Midst of Career And Motherhood Demands

I have e been trying to have a simple coffee catch-up with some of my friends for months without success. We plan everything down to the last detail, and then life happens. Someone’s work meeting runs over, a last-minute family commitment pops up, or urgent deadlines shift the entire day, forcing us to reschedule. It’s not that my friends aren’t important. They absolutely are. It’s just that our schedules never seem to align most of the time.

For some working mothers, their biggest challenge is making friends amidst their busy schedules.  For me, it’s not making friends that is hard. It’s the scheduling. The calendars just never seem to align, no matter how much we want them to.  I have amazing women in my life. My friends from high school, some from varsity days, work leagues that became friends, the amazing mothers I met because our children were friends and friends I met at church.

There’s no shortage of people I can sit with and have a genuine laugh with, and just share life with. But when it comes to actually finding a time that works for both of us? That’s where the real struggle begins. Somewhere between work meetings, school pick-ups, extra-curricular activities, and personal development, friendships seem to take a backup seat.   Even when we both mean well and want to meet up, it turns into a long back and forth of “what about next month?” or “can we try again after this project ends?”

And don’t get me started on time zones. Some of my closest friends are spread across different parts of the world now. When I’m finally free for a chat after bedtime routines, they’re fast asleep or knee-deep in their own daily madness. Coordinating a simple phone call feels like planning an international summit sometimes.

There’s also the mental exhaustion factor. By the time the rare free evening rolls around, I’m often torn between catching up with a friend and simply collapsing on the couch in silence. It’s not that I don’t want to connect,  it’s just that sometimes life’s demands leave very little energy for anything extra.

What I’m learning is that friendship in this stage of my life looks different. It’s less about grand, regular hangouts, and more about staying connected in small ways. A message here, a quick call there, cheering each other on from afar. It’s less polished but no less real.

I’m also trying to be more intentional. Sometimes, that means blocking out time in my calendar weeks ahead. Sometimes, it means being flexible when a window suddenly opens up. It’s not perfect, but it’s worth it. Because even when the timing isn’t always ideal, the connection still matters deeply.

So if you’re feeling the same way wanting to nurture your friendships but constantly wrestling with busy calendars fatigue and time zone diffences, you’re not alone. We’re all trying. And sometimes, just trying is enough to keep the bond alive.

How are you nurturing friendships as a working mother. Let me know in the comments. If you know we have been trying to have a catch-up, let’s make it happen soon 😃

Gratitude: This week, I am grateful for the gift of friendship. The family we get to choose. I am especially grateful for the friendship from siblings, the friends God Himself chose for me.

Gratefully