Friends without Children/Grandchildr en

I’ve got a really good freind who I’ve known 40 years ….our husbands worked together , and she had two kids when I met her (newborn and two year old…..) I was bored heating off them and had no interest . Then I had my first and this freind was invaluable to me as I turned out NOT to be a ‘natural’ mother , whatever that is , and she seemed to have it ‘cracked’ by then. She helped me immensely through first and second child and , two miscarriages in-between!
Now she has four grandkids and I have two…. mine still at school! We have always made time for each other …BUT we always agreed that family responsibility would clnd first ….so we could and did cancel appointments to pick up problems with younger families…..no arguments , no recriminations , we’ve both had trouble with kids and grandkids….school probs for her kids ….health probs my eldest. We knew that a quick text or call from either of us was enough , we’d just put ‘family SOS’…and catch up with the news later. The friendship has withstood the roughest tests.
We’re still there for our kid and grandchildren first ….we endure in the friendship because our priorities are sorted.

I'm with MOnica here. Some people bang on incessantly about their grandchildren whipping out the photos at every opportunity. It's so boring if you have limited knowledge of the family or even if you know them well. I limit my comments about my grandchildren to " they are doing ok thank you" I don't want to hear the minutiae of children's lives either. So many other more interesting things going on.

You say your friend is close and its a friendship of many years Cambsnan. To me such friendships are invaluable. Your friend has clearly indicated that she needs and wants your friendship. That is special, providing of course you feel the same. She is sad that your GCs are now dominating your life. Maybe she needs some reassurance that your relationship with her is important to you as well. Friendships need maintenance just like any relationship. Perhaps you could schedule some regular meet ups in advance. Make it clear to your family and your friend you will honour these get togethers. Dont talk endlessly about your family. There are lots of other topics you must have shared before the GCs were born. With luck your friend will still be there for you when the GCs are long since grown up and busy with their own lives.

to have wanted children but not had them makes you childless but for those who never wanted them - they are childfree
just like disease free