This week, Krista and Samantha unpack the tangled web of parenting, social life, and adult friendship—and how those things rarely play nicely together in the same season. They talk about the pressure of social obligations, the real mental load of making and keeping friends post-kids, and how Lucky Girl Syndrome shows up in both motherhood and mindset.
There’s reflection on parenting fatigue, post-COVID social anxiety, and the nostalgia for a time when making plans didn’t involve three calendars and two rounds of childcare coordination. Through it all, they explore what intentional connection can look like in this season—because sometimes having friends and feeling connected aren’t the same thing.
Whether you’re missing your people, feeling spread thin, or wondering how to model healthy friendships for your kids—this episode is equal parts relatable, reflective, and a reminder that you're not the only one feeling it.
Takeaways & Merit Badges Earned:
💇 Curly hair is a full-time job (and a personality trait).
🛏️ Parenting fatigue is real, and it compounds quickly.
🧠 Work-life balance remains elusive, but worth pursuing.
🫶 Friendships need intention—not just availability.
🗓️ Scheduling time with friends is harder, but not impossible.
💖 Teaching optimism can shape how kids move through the world.
📉 Social rituals shift dramatically post-kids (and that’s okay).
🎭 Social anxiety and burnout are often hiding under “I’m just busy.”
👯♀️ Modelling healthy friendships matters more than preaching them.
⚖️ It’s okay to say no to social plans for the sake of self-care.
Craving connection but also kind of hoping everyone cancels? Same.
💌 Follow us on Instagram @MamaMeritBadge
⭐️ Leave a review or share this episode with someone who gets the friendship juggle—because we’re all just doing our best out here.