Has anyone else felt a friendship shift after a friend became a parent?
I’m childfree, and one of my close friends has a young child. I’ve tried to show up for her: bringing meals, offering to grab things when I’m out, and making an effort to celebrate the big moments.
One thing that stuck with me was giving her a thoughtful baby gift and later hearing her talk about passing along many gifts that didn’t meet her preferences. She said mine was probably fine, but the conversation still stung. I know no one is obligated to keep a gift, and I wasn’t expecting a huge reaction. It just landed differently after I’d put care into choosing it.
Lately I’ve been wondering whether I’m being overly sensitive, or whether the friendship has started to feel one-sided. I also sometimes feel like my time and effort are taken for granted because I don’t have the same responsibilities she does.
For those of you who have close friends with kids, how do you handle this kind of shift without turning it into “parents versus childfree people”? Is it possible I’m reacting to one hurtful moment, or does this sound like a larger imbalance?
Posted Sep 30, 2026, 3:50 AM UTC