After 16 years without a social life, I had to rediscover friendship in my 40s
A dinner with former colleagues did more than ease Ms Daphne Ling's fears of being an outsider after years immersed in parenting. It gave her the confidence to open up to others again.
Daphne Ling faced a social life barren for 16 years after spending most of her 20s and 30s caring for her five children. She reminisced about her former colleagues who, while she was at home with her babies, were out enjoying drinks and trips. Eventually, her friends stopped inviting her to social events, and she felt increasingly adrift.
Upon her youngest child starting preschool, Daphne discovered she had more freedom, but the empty space left by a lack of social interactions troubled her. Her husband often watched the children, but Daphne felt she was falling out of touch with her friends due to their different lives and interests. It was hard for Daphne to initiate conversations with her friends, and she worried they had moved on without her.
A reunion with a former colleague helped Daphne reconnect with her old friends. At the dinner, they effortlessly reconnected, reminiscing about their shared past and reigniting their bond. Daphne realized the value of friendships where she could be herself, and she began reaching out to her old friends, reestablishing connections that had been neglected for years.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
