Tag: making friends

No Social Life in High School: My Part-Time Friends

Published: January 9, 2012 | Last Updated: January 9, 2012 By | 5 Replies Continue Reading

Why are my high school friends only my friends when we’re at school?   QUESTION Dear Irene, I’m a senior in high school and have no social life whatsoever. It’s not that I have no friends–I have a group of people that I’m really close with in school. We’re always together, talking, laughing, whatever. However, […]

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Friendship by the Book – MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend

Published: January 2, 2012 | Last Updated: January 2, 2012 By | 2 Replies Continue Reading

You might call Rachel Bertsche a serial dater. But that doesn’t quite capture her unique adventure. After relocating to Chicago, bereft of the strong network of friends, colleagues and familial supports she had in New York, the author spent 52 weeks prospecting for girlfriends in her search for a bestie.    She’s written a highly […]

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A newish mother finds it hard to make new friends

Published: October 11, 2011 | Last Updated: October 11, 2011 By | 5 Replies Continue Reading

Making new friends takes time, self-confidence, and creativity   QUESTION Dear Irene, Friendships have become a sore point for me at this juncture in my life. I am in my 30s and have a lovely husband and toddler son. I used to work full time and hence, never really developed any friendships in my neighborhood. […]

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A Q & A with Susan Newman: Friendship and The Only Child

Published: June 7, 2011 | Last Updated: June 7, 2011 By | 1 Reply Continue Reading

I was raised as an only child for much of my life because my sister is twelve years younger than me. I also have an only child, just one son. So questions about only children aren’t hypothetical to me. I often wonder about the effects of being an only and whether it has any bearing […]

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Guest Post – A young mom takes stock of her friendships

Published: April 4, 2011 | Last Updated: April 4, 2011 By | 3 Replies Continue Reading

By Lisa Shoreland   Why does it seem like the further into adulthood one gets, the harder it is to establish and maintain friendships? As a kid, friendships begin as a simple exchange of a sentence or two on the playground. In junior and senior high school, the circle of friends evolves into groups of […]

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Worth Reading: First-Class Friends

Published: February 19, 2011 | Last Updated: February 19, 2011 By | 2 Replies Continue Reading

An article by Parmy Olson in Forbes Business (2/02/11) tells how architect Gene Kohn became a master of hobnobbing in midair. Even if you fly economy—or don’t fly at all—the article shows how people can make friends wherever they happen to sit.   Do you have break-the-ice questions? Are you comfortable starting up a conversation? […]

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Her other best friend

Published: January 24, 2011 | Last Updated: January 24, 2011 By | 5 Replies Continue Reading

QUESTION Hi, My friend just moved here during the summer, and ever since then we’ve been really good friends. I feel like I can tell her anything and talk about anything. I think we hit Best Friend Status, but I really don’t know because she’s always talking about her best friend where she used to […]

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Lost in a Crowd: 10 Tips for Making New Friends at a Conference

Published: August 6, 2010 | Last Updated: August 6, 2010 By | 1 Reply Continue Reading

If you feel the slightest bit shy or uncomfortable in large groups, the anticipation of attending a conference with hundreds of strangers can be absolutely daunting. Take it from me. You think about where you’ll sit, whether you’ll have anyone to talk to, and whether you’ll be eating lunch at a table for one.   […]

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Finding a Bunco group, one player at a time

Published: May 27, 2010 | Last Updated: May 27, 2010 By | 4 Replies Continue Reading

QUESTION Dear Irene, First of all, thank you for your blog and columns; I’ve gained much insight from you. I am a 42-year-old mother of two boys and I have always had trouble making friends. I’ve read countless books on the subject of relationships and intellectually, I know what to do: Be open, smile, ask […]

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MWF Seeking BFF: Must Live in Chicago

Published: March 18, 2010 | Last Updated: March 18, 2010 By | 1 Reply Continue Reading

Rachel Bertsche left her oldest and dearest friends behind when she moved to Chicago for love. Now that she’s settled in the Midwest, she’s on the hunt for a new best friend. She says if there were no such thing as online predators, she’d post a want ad on Craigslist: "MWF Seeking BFF: Must live […]

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