MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

MOTHERHOOD + FRIENDSHIP

K.I.T.! FRIENDSHIPS IN MOTHERHOOD MATTER MORE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

October 5, 2020

K.I.T.! FRIENDSHIPS IN MOTHERHOOD MATTER MORE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: MOTHERHOOD + FRIENDSHIP

Do you remember signing yearbooks as a kid? All those carefully scrawled entreaties to, “Stay sweet,” or be BFFs even after what seemed like an endless summer? The promises to “K.I.T.”? The home telephone numbers printed as insurance against losing touch? (Oh how cell phones have changed things for our own children!)

 

We’ve grown up since then. We’ve moved away for school, pursued different careers, moved again, and started families. But that drive for connection remains just as strong.



AS MOMS ESPECIALLY WE RELY
ON THAT VILLAGE

We're looking for advice and validations as we pluck our way through sleep schedules, toddler tantrums. School days, and eventually, the teenage years.Who better to fall back on than our closest friends, whether they’re lifelong pals or people you just feel like you’ve known forever?





Don’t get me wrong. Motherhood creates all kinds of opportunities to feel conflicted – even when it comes to taking time to do things that are really good for us! As modern moms, we need those friendships more than ever, but motherhood itself — with its ceaseless demands — also makes nurturing our relationships harder than ever. It’s easy to let the weeks slip by before you return that email or make that call. Forget childhood summers. Parenting is the ultimate test of friendship!

 

But I’m here to make the case that meeting the challenge is worth it.




It is precisely because of those distractions and obligations of our modern lives that we need to take time for the friendships that recharge our batteries, both as human beings and as moms.


Take, for example, one of my best friends, Lisa. I’ve known Lisa since we were little babies. In middle school, she and I decided to enter a contest for Seventeen magazine. The publication was looking for contributions about friendship — an essay, a creative project, anything that highlighted what being a good friend was all about. The prize was a lifetime subscription to Seventeen and $100 for each participant. 

 

Lisa and I had a lot to say on the subject, but instead of writing about our history together, we decided to make a visual representation of our bond. We designed a cardboard gift box with fold-down sides and a ribbon that held it all together. Each side had 3-D photos and drawings picturing our years together in ballet classes, at summer camps, and playing with our siblings in our backyards. Lisa and I painstakingly wrapped it up and shipped it off for review. We didn’t win, but we must have taken a thousand pictures of our creation. We were so proud of our dedication to making our version of the project the best that it could be. 



ADULT FRIENDSHIPS ARE, IN MANY WAYS,
A VITAL FORM OF SELF-CARE.


A lot has changed since those days. Now Lisa lives in California and I’m up north. She works from home as an independent consultant, and I’m in the office all day. But our friendship has evolved to grow with the changes in our individual lives. We hosted each other’s first baby showers. We’ve gone to three Justin Timberlake concerts together in the past six years. She's the kind of person I can call if I'm having a rough day (or a rough month), and even if we haven't spoken in months, she knows just what to say. 

 

Geography has separated us in ways that Covid-19 has done for plenty of best friends who live in the same neighborhood. And I think that is actually encouraging. Lisa and I still connect by phone and on social media, and our friendship is proof that the power of connection can transcend distance. The benefits of understanding and being understood, after all, make the effort worth it. Adult friendships are, in many ways, a vital form of self-care.






That’s actually one of the reasons why I designed my online retreat, The Mama Reset Self-Care Retreat (at Home), as something women can do together. It’s a three hour mental getaway allowing you to recenter, recharge and reconnect on what matters most - covering mental, physical and nutritional wellness. Taking time for ourselves is crucial, but doing it alongside other women you respect and love can amplify the empowerment factor (and can make it more fun!).

 

So I encourage you to look at your own circle and reach out in a way that honors your particular circumstances. Host a virtual happy hour or brunch with your besties. Take a distanced yoga class with your squad, or simply enjoy a glass of wine on the porch with another friend. The chance to connect, talk, and laugh is exactly what this doctor ordered.


Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

START NOW
By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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ON THE PODCAST


By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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