[HappyMomAnna]

There is nothing wrong with starting this thread--many of us feel the way you are.

It is so funny because when my bios were young most of the people I met were older then me--I had a hard time finding friedns my own age. My best friend for the longest time was a woman who was 25 years older then me! But she was so wonderful because she treated me like a 'regular' mom and spoke to me as an equal--whereas many other the other older moms acted like I didn't exsist and looked past me. When I would try to sign up for a job with the PTA or in the kids classes I felt like I always had a babysitter because often the job would turn into one they decided needed two people!

Now I am on the complete other side! I am one of those Old moms like the friend I met long ago.....I always try very hard to remember how I felt as the young mom and how good I felt that another mature and older mom would treat me like someone she had an interest in being friends with. Sometimes I Still feel odd but, I give the younger moms a chance to be my friend knowing that what we need to have in common is being a mother more then our own age.....

But I do know how strange it feels---and also I think when we get to our 30-40's we are not the same as we were in our 20's. Everyone hung out back then and no one had too much responsibility by the time we get to this point people have made strong friendship and for me there is less fource in making a friendship. In my 20's I wouldn't think twice about taking the lead makng a new friend and calling her everyday--maybe twice a day and hooking up for dinner or asking for paly dates with her kids---now It is like I am always thinking, "I don't want to seem needy or clingy this person has a life--I should call her o often--maybe I should wait for her to call me...."

I have found in my life that sometimes I have to make friendships with people I wouldn't think would be the best friends--and they have turned out to be the BEST--

I think there are a lot of us in the late 30's and 40's who feel this making friends thing and are feeling odd about it?

Another thing I try to remember is that friendships build slower then it used to feel they did......I don't know why but, now I have found I need a lot of friends and I need to give each friendship more time....for busy lives and other relationships and work and all that we have to do.....

Good luck in all of this--and like I said this is a good thread I think this is a problem for a lot of us!