EP 139: Who Are Your Friends When No One Is Assigning Them to You?

Remember when making friends was just… built into life? You met on the playground. Sat next to each other in class. Played on the same team. Lived down the hall in college. Or, in Jacqueline’s case, essentially paid for your friends by joining a sorority. 😂 Then adulthood happens—and suddenly, no one is assigning you friends anymore. In this solo episode, Jacqueline explores why adult friendship feels so different, especially in motherhood. It’s not necessarily that we’ve forgotten how to make friends. It’s that the structure that once made friendship happen naturally—proximity, repetition, and shared experiences—has disappeared. She talks about friendships changing as our lives change, the difference between mom friends and friendships that feel like they’re truly yours, why one great conversation usually isn’t enough to build a real connection, and why sometimes we have to be willing to go first. Jacqueline also shares how this realization has shaped Her Village and the upcoming Her Village membership: creating consistent opportunities for women to get out of the house, explore Naperville, see the same faces again, and give new friendships somewhere to actually grow. Because maybe we don't need to magically find a new best friend. Maybe we just need a place to keep showing up. **In this episode:** • Why making friends felt easier when we were younger • How adult life removes the built-in structure for friendship • Why proximity + repetition + shared experiences matter • The difference between having friends and still craving more connection • Making friends through motherhood—and wanting relationships that are yours, too • Why somebody eventually has to send the “When are you free?” text • What Jacqueline is really building with Her Village • Why consistency is at the heart of the upcoming membership • Giving friendship somewhere to grow If someone came to mind while you were listening, send her this episode—and maybe send the second text, too: “When are you free?” Support the show \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\__ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: joinhervillage.co 💛 \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\__