How Do You Stay Close to Friends in Different Family Stages?

This week on The Connection Code, Jeana and Rachel dive into a big, heartfelt question: What does it take to maintain friendships when you're in different family situations than your friends?

They explore how milestones like marriage and parenthood can shift friendships—sometimes causing hurt feelings on both sides—and share their own vulnerable stories of navigating these changes. From Rachel’s reflections on being one of the last in her friend group to have kids, to Jeana’s experience supporting friends with children while growing her own family, they reveal how easy it is to misinterpret distance as disinterest.

Along the way, they offer advice from friends and listeners: keep inviting each other, be patient, don't take declined invites personally, and—importantly—offer tangible help without waiting to be asked. Whether you're in the thick of new parenthood, child-free, or somewhere in between, this episode reminds us that connection through life’s big transitions takes empathy, communication, and sometimes just showing up to hold a baby.

Plus, in Show & Tell, Rachel shares a text from space (seriously!) and Jeana introduces a brilliant UK program designed to build parenting friendships, inspiring dreams of a grown-up version here.

Big themes:

• Friendship across different life stages
• Communication (and miscommunication!) between friends
• Offering support without adding decision fatigue
• Celebrating evolving friendships with intentionality

Show notes:

00:00 – 01:10 | Welcome + The Big Question

Jeana introduces the episode's central topic: "What does it take to maintain friendships when you're in a different family situation than your friends?"

01:11 – 03:20 | Early Signs of Friendship Drift

Both sides—parents and non-parents—feel left out when life stages differ, even though the hurt is often unintentional.

03:21 – 06:30 | Rachel’s Story: Learning from Both Sides

Rachel reflects on being single while friends became parents, and how becoming a mom herself reshaped her perspective on friendship.

06:31 – 08:55 | Identity Shifts and Friendship Evolution

Jeana and Rachel discuss how big life changes (like parenthood) require friendships to adapt, much like romantic relationships do.

08:56 – 13:00 | Vulnerability: Mourning the Old Friendship Era

Rachel shares her honest emotions about feeling grief when friends’ lives changed, and Jeana shares her experiences as a non-parent navigating these shifts.

13:01 – 19:25 | Advice for Bridging the Gap Between Life Stages

They discuss real ways to stay connected across different family situations, including offering specific help, patience, and proactive communication.

19:26 – 26:45 | Wisdom from Friends: What Parents and Non-Parents Wish Each Other Knew

Jeana shares advice collected from friends with kids and without—including what helps most (and what unintentionally hurts).

26:46 – 27:22 | Quick Takeaway: Clear, Heartfelt Communication

The hosts summarize the key to sustaining friendships through big life changes: honest, affirming communication—and always offering to "hold a baby" when you can.

27:23 – 35:42 | Show and Tell

Rachel shares a touching connection story involving a text from Gail King before going to space! Jeana shares a fascinating UK program The National Childhood Trust (NCT) that helps new parents build local community friendships.

35:43 – 37:31 | Dre