I met these women when I was fifteen and brand new to a huge high school in Northern Virginia. We first crossed paths in the drama department—where, true to form, there was plenty of theatrical drama—but we didn’t become instant best friends. Over the years, though, living through puberty, graduation and college, navigating careers and family life, and somehow staying on speaking terms created a bond that feels permanent. It’s the kind of friendship that endures changes in jobs, cities and stages of life: the shared history becomes part of who you are.
Turning thirty felt like a milestone that deserved its own celebration. No matter how busy we are or how many responsibilities tug at us now, we agreed it was worth making space for a reunion. We planned around work schedules, childcare and the unexpected—two hurricanes even skirted our plans and still couldn’t stop us from being together. A milestone, a weekend, and the kind of friends who make the effort—those ingredients made a memorable reunion.
I consider myself lucky that these women are the kind of friends who adore my baby and laugh when my toddler photobombs every picture. They’ve never treated my life with children as an inconvenience. Instead they include the kids in adventures and take joy in small milestones: the first unsteady steps, the discovery of a cool seashell on the beach, the enthusiastic declarations that a toddler’s antics are “so cute.” That acceptance matters more than I can say. It keeps friendships alive when so many others fade as lives get busier.
Becoming a parent doesn’t erase who you were before children; it layers on a different identity. You can still be that person who loved late-night conversations, road trips and impromptu plans—only now your life includes naps, meal schedules, car seats and bedtime stories. For many, that new rhythm clears the social calendar of the old kinds of nights out, and friends without children sometimes drift away simply because schedules no longer align. The friends who stick around, though, make the effort to meet you where you are. They accept that plans may need adjusting and arrive with humor and flexibility.
Not these friends.
These friends genuinely include our children in the fun. They teach a toddler to take a first step toward them, point out tide pools, and celebrate small victories alongside us. When we travel together, no one acts like the trip is ruined because there are kids in tow; instead, the presence of children becomes part of the story of that trip. They compliment our parenting when things go smoothly and offer steady support when things are chaotic. That kind of acceptance, humor and warmth keeps friendships rooted even as life gets full.
We began as three friends in high school. Over the years our circle has grown, and now we are seven. New additions have brought new perspectives, new laughs and more energy. Despite different schools, careers, relationships and life stages, we find the common ground that keeps us close: shared memories, mutual respect and a willingness to make time for one another. Those elements are what sustain lasting friendships.
After a weekend of catching up, laughing until our sides hurt, sharing meals and handing around babies, we left feeling refreshed and determined to do it again. These reunions are more than brief respites from everyday life; they are reminders of enduring connection, of the people who have watched you grow and who still choose to be part of your life. We all agreed: this is not a one-time thing. We’re already planning the next time we’ll be together.
E, Me, Caroline, Elliot, Erin, Sara and Little Evan