Childhood friends are some of the most important relationships in our lives. The friends we make in our early years often shape us into the adults we become. Staying in touch with these buddies keeps us connected to carefree childhood memories while letting the friendship grow over time.
Putting energy into these long-term bonds makes sure you have good support and great memories to cherish. Even when life takes you all over the place, keeping up these connections preserves meaningful relationships. Use the following tips to get the most out of your valuable childhood friendships:.
Catch up regularly.
Make efforts to meet up or chat with childhood friends often. It can just be a once-a-year in-person meet-up or phone catch-up chat to begin with. But try to aim higher by planning a trip together every few years or even a weekly video call to stay updated. Don’t lose contact just because life gets hectic. Regular catch-ups keep the friendship alive.
- 82% of people wish they could see their childhood friends more often.
- Catching up twice a month is ideal to preserve closeness.
Make new shared memories.
While reminiscing about old memories is fun, be sure you make new ones together too. Plan fresh activities and adventures that become inside jokes and bonding moments. These become exciting new things to laugh about and talk over during catch-ups. New memories prevent friendships from going stale.
- Shared, novel experiences release bonding hormones like oxytocin.
- Doing new things together sparks nostalgia later in life.
Be open and honest.
As you go through life’s highs and lows, keep being open with childhood friends. They uniquely understand parts of your history. Sharing fears or celebrating successes with those long-time confidants gives you perspective and support you can’t get elsewhere. Avoid hiding things from them. Honesty and openness strengthen bonds.
- Honest self-disclosure indicates trust and comfort in a friendship.
- The more you confide in a childhood friend, the closer you will feel.
Respect each other’s journeys.
Understand that childhood buddies are on their own path, which may be very different from yours. Avoid judging them if they make big life decisions you wouldn’t. Don’t pressurize them to stick to certain goals. Respect each other’s personal growth, even if it takes them in unexpected directions. Support their individual journeys wherever they go.
- Forcing your own expectations on friends damages relationships.
- Accepting differing values preserves closeness over time.
Give each other grace.
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We all make mistakes or go through tough patches. Having a history means you’ve likely seen the best and worst of your friends already. When conflicts happen or you feel let down, extend extra grace and forgiveness to preserve the tie. Respect them enough to be honest, but also give them second chances.
- Letting go of grudges improves mental and relational health.
- Forgiveness repairs trust and brings people closer together.
Make special efforts for milestones.
Certain birthdays, weddings, babies, and other big milestones deserve extra effort when childhood friends are involved. Though you can’t attend every childhood buddy’s 30th birthday bash, consider taking time off or budgeting to travel good distances for major milestone events or occasions uniting groups. Show up to celebrate milestone moments together.
- Attending a close friend’s wedding reduces the likelihood of divorce.
- Reuniting at milestones socially bonds groups for decades.
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Bridge Geographical Gaps Mindfully
Use technology thoughtfully to nurture connections despite locational differences. Forward an interesting article that reminds you of a past debate. Mail surprise care packages to their homes. Record audio or video logs recapping your week to share. Tag them with nostalgic social media throwbacks. These gestures reinforce bonds.
- Long-distance childhood friends use 50% more self-disclosure.
- Nostalgic media sharing releases hormones that soothe separation pain.
Introduce your social circles.
Blending social circles by introducing childhood friends to newer friends or partners strengthens existing closeness. It helps new people in your life appreciate what shaped you. Bonus: seeing old buddies through fresh eyes renews fondness. Combining groups also multiplies shared memories, making meet-ups more joyful.
- People feel closer when friend groups merge harmoniously.
- Blending social circles expands support systems.
Be loyal when times get tough.
As the years bring crises, show rock-steady loyalty and willingness to show up when pals need support, whether that’s lending an ear, running errands, or sending a caring card. Reciprocate how they’ve lifted you previously. Going all out for childhood friends facing loss, illness, family issues, or other challenges fortifies the bond further.
- Receiving support during adversity predicts relationship longevity.
- Helping each other through hard times forges unbreakable bonds.
Cherish your shared history.
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Lastly, don’t take for granted the extraordinarily special thing decades of shared history represent. Regularly express heartfelt appreciation when reminiscing about adventures, inside jokes, pranks, and coming-of-age conversations only you two share. Verbalizing gratitude for the friendship and the positive imprints it has left on your life journey amplifies fondness further.
- Reminiscing releases feel-good chemicals, improving mood.
- 94% of people appreciate childhood friends more as time passes.
In Conclusion…
Caring for childhood friendships requires valuing where it all started, cherishing people who’ve been with you from the early days, and making mindful efforts to nurture intimacy built over significant time and experience. While allowing space for individual growth, actively invest through openness, loyalty, blended circles, remembering milestones, and creating new memories to complement the old. Childhood friends are for life; treasure these golden relationships.