Five Reasons to Dump Your Best Friend

When my best friend, Jane, reneged on throwing my baby shower mere days before its' scheduled date, I knew our friendship had come to an end. After eagerly anticipating my shower for 2 months, I was appalled that my friend of more than two years had simply abandoned all plans to throw it, with no explanation. It was then that my growing suspicions of her selfishness were confirmed. I couldn't ignore the obvious; it was time to dump her.

As the dust began to settle, I realized something: A weight I hadn't known existed had lifted. It was then, as I marveled in my newfound peace, that I realized how over-due our break-up had been. I spent the next few days reflecting on what had gone wrong and how I had missed the signs.

1) She Is Only Your Friend When It Is Convenient for Her
After the first year or so, I began to notice a pattern with Jane. It seemed that anytime Jane started dating someone, I would not hear from her. When Jane was again single, however, she was eager to spend time together. Since my life had become incredibly busy with preparing for my first child, I hadn't really minded her fickleness. I eventually realized, however, that Jane's habit of ditching her friends when she was in a relationship, made her dangerously unreliable.

2) She Can't Be Happy for You
When I became pregnant, I eagerly shared my news with everyone I could think of. I was overwhelmed with positive feedback. Except Jane's, that is. "I don't know how to feel about this," was the last thing I had expected her to say. At a time when I was experiencing one of the biggest life changes I would ever undergo, Jane was not sure how she felt about it. I'll admit I was a little annoyed, but I knew that she was just upset because she thought she might be losing her friend. After a few days, when she must have realized I wasn't going anywhere, she called and congratulated me, sort of. Over time, however, she genuinely seemed to warm to the idea. I suppose that's why I believed her feigned interest in throwing me a baby shower.