We all have friendships that last some friendships that don't. What makes the difference? To stay friends you need mutual respect, trust, and something that bonds you together. A common like, a common dislike, or the need to just chat through life sometimes, similar opinions or different opinions, just something that keeps you talking to each other, thinking nice thoughts about the other. So what happens when one friend starts to be less then kind to the other? When the days they hurt you and make you feel sad out number the days they build you up and remind you how amazing you are. Sometimes we count them as bad days, take a break, and begin again. How does that change when you have kids? I know exactly how it changes. If you stay in a friendship where you are being insulted, treated badly, taken advantage of, being cursed at or called names, etc, then those are the things you are teaching your child a friend should do. You have taught your child to stay friends with people who call them names and put them down, because if that's how mommy's friend treats her then that must be how it's supposed to be. Let's change that!! Teach your child that while it's great to be forgiving, and you should give people another chance, that friends can repair damage done in the rush of melt down or a terrible day, but that at some point, you stick up for yourself. Teach them to leave negative relationships behind. Show them they deserve to be cared for and treated well. They will grow to have amazing friends, a support system that never waivers, and you will feel safe and confident letting them go out with thier friends, you can trust that peer pressure won't become a negative problem, you know they will make good decisions and not be bullied, because they have friends who will stand up for them. So go, teach your children how to be good friends, how to have good friends, and to leave behind the ones who cause them pain. This will create a better future for all of you.