Through the various stages in our lives we come into contact with a wide range of people. We form many different circles of friends according to what is happening in our lives and when.

School friends are perhaps our earliest made group of friends, formed when we were in our teens or even earlier, and because of this, they can often be the strongest friendships. Bonds are special as we grew up helping each other through many anxious times and milestone years.

Then there are perhaps friends we meet at college or university. Again, these can be strong friendships as they are formed when slightly older and more likely to have more in common. Often friends from university will live together and this can form the basis of lasting friendships.

Not everyone forms friendships through work. It's not perceived to be a place in which we choose to make friends, but it's a huge advantage if the people we work with turn out to be true friends.

New mums and pregnant women can often feel isolated from friends unless they are lucky enough to have people they know who are going through the same thing at the same time. This is why mums to be often join groups such as antenatal classes to meet up with other young women in a similar position. Good friendships are often made through these classes, as there's an instant shared bond and common interest about the anticipation of the new baby. These friendships often mature and grow as the babies grow up together and develop at the same rate.

Time and the different roles of friendships

With time being so precious, and many of us busier than ever before, it can be hard to try and devote time to seeing all of our different groups of friends. Don't worry if you find that you're moving in different directions from different groups. People change and reach different phases in their lives at different times. For example you may find that you're the only one that is pregnant from your group of school friends. Whilst you can still be friends and enjoy each other's company, you may find that you need the support and experiences of people in a similar position to you more.

You may realise that your friendships will have different roles and you will get different benefits from each group. For example, fellow parents will provide support and ideas about children and parenting whilst you will get more professional support and career empathy from friends at work.

Don't feel compelled to see people because you feel you ought to. Whilst it's important to make the effort with friends, people move on and you may need to admit that certain relationships have just run their course. If you no longer have anything in common, even if it is to reminisce about the ‛old days', and you're finding it hard work, then accept that you no longer HAVE to be friends.

On the other hand, there may be friends you lost touch with before and you suddenly find a new bond with them again. Ultimately, you will make the time and effort to see those people you still care about and want to stay in touch with.

Be flexible in who you can see and when. If you're an expectant or new mum, it's likely that you'll see more of other young mums in similar situations. Technology makes it easier and we can be more creative in how we stay in contact with other groups of friends via e-mail, social networking sites and even web cams. For example, instead of just phoning out of the blue, why not agree a mutual date and time for a chat over the phone with a friend that lives further away. That way you'll both look forward to catching up and you won't be rushing to get off the phone to put the children to bed.

Whilst it perhaps won't be possible to see all groups of friends as regularly as you used to, there's no reason why you can't still have a wide range of strong friendships. It can even mean that when you eventually get to see certain friends, the time spent together is more meaningful when you catch up!

To find out more about dealing with changes in your life and for help in creating a life that you love, visit www.horizonsregained.com