135: Still in the Group Chat, But Not One of Them Anymore

Send Jen a Text MessageHave you ever been invited to something — a baby shower, a play date, a summer gathering — and felt that quiet dread settle in before you even replied?It's not that you don't love your friends. You do. It's that somewhere along the way, you became the exception in the group — the one everyone is a little careful around, the one whose life went a different way. And now being around the people you love most can feel like the loneliest place in the world.In this episode, Jennifer talks honestly about what happens to your friendships after stillbirth — especially when you're watching a whole friend group move into the season of babies and play dates and nursery updates that you were supposed to be part of too. She talks about why it's so hard, why you keep showing up even when it hurts, and what you can actually do about it without losing yourself or the friendships that matter.What you'll learn:Why being invited isn't the same as feeling included — and why that difference is so importantHow to understand the real reason your friend group feels so isolating right now (even when everyone loves you)Why the two worlds — yours and theirs — don't speak the same language, and why that's not anyone's faultWhat's really behind the guilt and longing and resentment you feel when you see their babies and their beautiful, uncomplicated livesWhy pretending you're okay is keeping you stuck — and what honesty with your friends can actually look likeHow to decide what you can and can't do right now — without guilt and without apologyWhat to do when you're invited to something that feels impossible — including a few real, honest options that aren't just "white knuckle it"Why some friendships will deepen after loss and some will fade — and why both of those things are allowedHow to protect yourself without pulling away from every person you loveWhy you are not responsible for managing everyone else's comfort around your grief[Read the full blog post here: https://navigatingbabyloss.com/post/friendships-after-stillbirth-baby-loss-135Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journalWHERE TO FIND AND FOLLOW ME!Website-  https://www.navigatingbabyloss.comTik Tok-https://www.tiktok.com/@navigatingbabylossInstagram-https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/You Tube-https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-2MCEY5PRiF6p6VB_2lxA