Keep Your Family Strong.org

Friendships and being social with other parents creates a sense of community that everyone can benefit from.

Let’s face it, coordinating work, arranging childcare, and completing projects around the house can be very difficult. Having friends you can lean on for an extra hand, or who can just listen when you need to vent, can make a world of difference.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

Who do you rely on for support? What difference do they make in your life?
Who are you a friend to?
Have your friends changed since you’ve become a parent? In what ways? How do your friends support you as a parent?
Do you have friends who take advantage of you or put your child or you at risk?
How do you teach your child about what a friend is?
When did your friends really pull together to help you get something done? When did you help a friend that needed it?

SOME PARENTS SAY...

"My support system helps me make it through the hard times."
"When I was looking for an early childhood center, I made a point of looking for one with activities where parents could connect."
"I need to have more communication with my neighbors. We could help each other."
"I try to have an ‘entourage’ of people that look forward to seeing me."
"As a younger parent, I don’t have much of
a support system of friends to talk about parenting with."

I'M BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS BY:

"Going to events and programs at my child’s preschool. It’s made my network a lot bigger."
"Looking at my current friendships and focusing on the ones that help me be the best parent I can be."
"Making sure I get the help I need, even if it means going outside my circle of friends."

6 Ways to Keep Your
Family Strong