Carolyn Hax: I have a ‘strange guilt’ around other parents

I have been to preschool more than once in several states. The friendship you create is most likely fleeting. People move, children grow, circumstances change, etc. I find that I am happiest if I keep my expectations of friendships with other parents to a minimum and communicate with them only for the sake of purpose. support my child’s friendship at that time. I also make it a priority to keep track of the friends I made before I became a parent. Nearly 20 years later, my closest friends are some, if not all, of them. I can’t count one preschool parent among them. I wish the other parents well, but simply having a baby the same year is not enough of a reason to be friends for life. If that happens to you, consider yourself lucky. You can’t force lasting friendships any more than you can force lasting love.