Having trouble keeping up with the group chat? We’re all guilty of it. When life gets busy, friendships often take a back seat. But in reality, these connections are critical to our well-being, especially as working moms.  To help us understand the science behind social connections, we brought back one of our favorite guests, Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, clinical psychologist and friendship expert. Together, we discover how to open ourselves up to finding, broadening, or deepening friendships, all while staying vulnerable and authentic. We also discuss tricky dynamics, from friendship breakups to natural ups and downs. What you’ll get out of this episode: Strategies for expanding and deepening existing friendships.How to tune into your authentic motivations for building new friendships and learn practical steps for initiating connections.Understand when to address negative dynamics in friendships and how to navigate them with compassion and honesty.Ways to sustain friendships beyond the shared context of children, fostering deeper connections based on mutual interests and shared experiences.Tangible steps to rekindle friendships after periods of absence or busy seasons.0:00 - Introduction 1:03 - Discussion on the importance of friendships for emotional and physical well-being. 4:17 - Tips for making friends authentically. 8:45 - The power of expressing a desire for friendship directly and authentically. 13:04 - Strategies for deepening existing friendships without emotionally dumping. 15:18 - Broadening and deepening existing friendships. 19:09 - Understanding and communicating boundaries in friendships. 20:33 - Recognizing when a friendship is negatively impacting your energy. 28:19 - Maintaining friendships beyond the connection through children. 30:56 - Empowering adult friendships and strategies for bridging gaps in communication during busy periods. 38:38 - Reconnecting with old friends. 42:04 - Bold acts of friendship. 45:43 - Embracing changing friendships. 48:59 - Guiding children in friendship choices. 55:31 - Course announcement: "Confidently Connected" Connect with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer: Linkedin: Dr. Miriam Kirmayer Instagram: @miriamkirmayer Website: https://miriamkirmayer.com Sign Up For Miriam’s Friendship Course: Confidently Connected Book Miriam to Speak: Keynote Speaking Please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and kindly review the podcast on Apple Podcasts so we can reach more working moms. We always want to hear your thoughts, concerns, questions or guest suggestions – email [email protected]. Follow us! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workingmomhour Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomhour/ TikTok: https:/www.tiktok.com/@workingmomhour Working Mom Hour Website: https://workingmomhour.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@workingmomhour