No matter what our age, we look to our girlfriends to provide shoulders to cry on, ears to listen and hearts to hear things the men in our lives may never understand (besides, should we really subject our mates to why it’s important to have so many pockets in one purse? Let’s be fair, ladies.). But in this age of the social media blitz, the true definition of ‘friend’ seems to be a bit foggy.

Which Friends are “Real” Friends?

While it’s not uncommon for someone to have hundreds of friends on Facebook or Twitter, it’s tough to decipher how many of those relationships are really genuine? And if we’re being completely honest, how many of those friends do you really have the time to invest in?

I took this question to heart recently and decided to think about who my quintessential friends are. What I came up with are several types of friends no-one should be without in their lifetime. Just as each of us go through different seasons of life, so too will our relationships vary during these times. Still, each of the friends below stays with us through every page in the book of our lives.

1. The Contemporary Friend

   This may be someone at work, church, or in the neighborhood that just ‘gets’ you. You grew up in the same era and strive for the same goals. You challenge each other in your profession, whether that happens to be as a working woman or a stay-at-home mom. The two of you understand the importance of dreaming and achieving goals and are there for each other when you need an extra boost to reach the stars!

2. The Mommy Friend

   One of the most critical friendships when you have kids five and under, nothing is off-limits with this friend. From poop to vomit to tantrums, the Mommy Friend gets you at a time in your life when nothing else makes sense. You’re there to let each other know you haven’t lost your minds and to remind each other when potty-training gets hard that no-one in Kindergarten still wears diapers (oh yeah, and that showering daily is a luxury, not a requirement!).

3. The “Learn From” & “Pass On” Friends

   All of us need someone a little older in our lives that’s willing to walk beside us through this journey that we can “learn from”; someone who’s been there, done that and is willing to tell the tale. Likewise, we need to find someone we can also walk alongside and “pass on” similar information to. This is one of the sweetest and deepest ways we can grow as women.

4. The Fun Friend

   This is your cut-loose, karaoke-singing, weekend road trip friend. Whether you have a random urge to get creative and paint a sunset at the beach or feel like driving across the state line just for kicks, this girl is up for it! Fun-filled and free-spirited, this friend sees the glass half-full and can even make sitting in traffic a blast when you’re with her.

5. The Best Friend

   We all need a best friend. You know the one. The friend you call that can not only occupy all the above roles, but is there when you need her regardless of time of day or how silly the request may happen to be. She’s the first person you call when you break-up with your boyfriend, go into labor, or lose someone close to you. Regardless of time apart or miles away, this is your go-to girl.