Finding friends as an adult, keeping up with friends when you become a mom, transitioning friendships as your children grow up… No one tells you what to expect. But, friendships are worth investing in and they are a key part of what helps us not mom alone. Author, speaker and mentor mom Melanie Shankle joins me to share how she’s navigated friendships as an adult. She opens up about what worked, what didn’t and a few things she wishes she’d done differently. “I think it was some of it was my own insecurities of getting out there and making new friends. I don't find women to be any less intimidating in my forties than I found them to be when I was 16 years old. I think there's also a thing as women that we tend to get in a circle and be inward-focused and we aren't good about looking out to see who might need a friend or who may want to be included.” Melanie talks candidly about her friendships, being an introvert and about how friendship doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything. Looking back, she wishes she’d been more open to meeting people and making friends instead of being more inwardly-focused.  “I think you would be better off going with the assumption that everybody would like to make a new friend. You know, just that everybody's open to friendship and to get to know a new person.” Connect with Melanie:  Website:  thebigmamablog.com Facebook: facebook.com/melanieshankle Instagram: @melanieshankle  Links Mentioned:   On the Bright Side [BOOK]** Nobody’s Cuter than You [BOOK]** Ep 12: The Antelope in the Living Room with Melanie Shankle [PODCAST] Ellen DeGeneres & George Bush [VIDEO] Episodes on Friendship: [Ep 233] Cultivating Friendships in a World of Isolation :: Sally Clarkson  [Ep 159] Healing Friendship Wounds :: Lisa-Jo Baker [Ep 148] Overcoming Insecurity in Friendships :: Renee Swope  [Ep 102] That’s Me. . .Craving Authentic Friendships :: Libby & Leslie