Forced proximity was the name of the game for childhood friendships. Your friends were kids you were in school with, played sports with, or lived in your neighborhood. Making friends as an adult can feel like the Wild West.
If you’re struggling to find your own Dad friends, you’re not alone. We’ve rounded up some sure fire ways to grow your village with the help of our very own Dad village.
- Just do it. We’re not trying to rip off Nike, but that slogan is just as true for making friends. Numerous Dads mentioned just “going for it” with other Dads. Whether it be at school drop off or soccer practice, take the chance and talk to some fellow Dads. Ask them if they want to set up a playdate or go out for a beer.
- Utilize your kids. Setting up consistent playdates, attending library readings and local kid’s events, volunteering at school or with sports, or frequenting the park you love will allow you to meet other Dads. In other words, be a Lead Dad!
- Fitness. A lot of our Dads reported that most of their good adult friends came from joining rec leagues or gyms in their community. Don’t worry about the competitive aspect, most of the Dads are just there to have a good time, get some exercise, and talk about pretty much anything.
- Community. Getting involved in your local community is a win-win when it comes to making friends and serving others. Some examples might be joining the PTA, attending events/classes put on by your church, or inviting your neighbors over for lunch. One pro-tip: PTAs are still dominated by Moms so the Dads you meet there are going to be just as open to making Dad friends as you are.
- Don’t limit yourself. Sometimes we have preconceived notions of who we think our friends should be. That can shrink your pool of possible friends pretty quickly. Be open to your new friend being an older/younger dad, being from a different religion, or someone that genuinely believes the Jets will make a playoff run (it’s good to have friends that are dreamers).
It can feel hard to find the time and put yourself out there to make friends. However, overwhelmingly, our Dad Community continued to say that the friendships they’ve made as adults (and Dads) have been incredibly rewarding.
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