From MadeForMums · · 2m
Mum Friend Test: 8 Questions for Real School Friends
8 questions to spot if your school-gate friend is truly yours.
In brief
8 questions to spot if your school-gate friend is truly yours. Parents can test if school-gate friendships last beyond daily routines using 8 questions about shared life, not just proximity. Originally reported by MadeForMums.
Quick answers
- What is a school-gate friendship?
- School-gate friendships can be a lifeline for parents who share forgotten PE kits, birthday-party politics and frantic WhatsApp messages.
- Why do school-gate friendships form?
- Seeing the same people daily removes a major hurdle for adult friendships: finding time to connect.
- What does the 2021 YouGov study show?
- Nearly 60% of UK adults have 10 or fewer friends, and 7% have no close friends at all.
- What is the Mum Friend Test?
- The Mum Friend Test uses 8 questions to determine if school-gate friendships last beyond daily routines.
- Question 1: Would you see each other if children changed schools?
- If your children changed schools tomorrow, would you still see each other?
What is a school-gate friendship?
School-gate friendships can be a lifeline for parents who share forgotten PE kits, birthday-party politics and frantic WhatsApp messages.
Why do school-gate friendships form?
Seeing the same people daily removes a major hurdle for adult friendships: finding time to connect.
What does the 2021 YouGov study show?
Nearly 60% of UK adults have 10 or fewer friends, and 7% have no close friends at all.
What is the Mum Friend Test?
The Mum Friend Test uses 8 questions to determine if school-gate friendships last beyond daily routines.
Question 1: Would you see each other if children changed schools?
If your children changed schools tomorrow, would you still see each other?
Question 2: Would she be first to know big news?
Would she be one of the first people you told your big news?
Question 3: Have you spent time without children?
Have you ever spent time together without the children?
Question 4: Do you make plans without reason?
Do you make plans when you don't already have a reason to be together?
Question 5: Would you miss her if you stopped seeing her?
Would you genuinely miss her if you stopped seeing her every day?
Question 6: Would you invite her into your social life?
Would you invite her into the rest of your social life?
Question 7: Would you turn to her if struggling?
Would you turn to her if you were really struggling?
Question 8: Would you stay friends if children stopped being friends?
If your children stopped being friends, would you stay friends?
How to move beyond school gate?
Research shows moving from acquaintances to friendship takes 80 to 100 hours together.
What happens next?
Parents can book a coffee or suggest simple plans to build genuine friendships beyond school routines.
The short version
Parents can test if school-gate friendships last beyond daily routines using 8 questions about shared life, not just proximity.
