8 Friend Date Ideas That'll Actually Make It Out Of Your Group Chat

Are there really assigned roles in friend groups or am I just imagining things?

Like I said before, it can seem like you and your friends unintentionally gravitate toward certain 'roles.' It's not like anyone woke up one day and decided, "I'm going to be the 'mother hen' of the group," but it tends to happen. Why?

Paruolo says, "In my clinical work, I've consistently observed that our friendship roles often mirror our early family dynamics. These patterns show up naturally — think about who in your friend group gets the first crisis call, who plans all the gatherings, or who everyone turns to for emotional support." I'm willing to bet you thought of a name for each scenario — including yours — because I know I did!

"Like in families, we each fall into specific roles that feel familiar to us," Paruolo further explains.

What actually makes someone an empathetic person?

There's so many definitions for empathy, but I thought it would be wise to ask a licensed professional for her opinion on the matter. "Empathy means to feel what others are feeling. You do not have to have a personal direct experience with something to feel empathy for another person," shares Paruolo.

For example, your friend could call to tell you she has to have fibroid removal surgery and is feeling scared. You may have never had surgery, but you could find yourself feeling the need to comfort her in spite of this. Paruolo says, "The cool thing about our brains is that we have mirror neurons, which means part of our brain is set up to feel what others feel. The ability to attune to others' emotional states comes naturally to some people, while others may need to develop this capacity more consciously."

To break it down even further, here's signs that Paruolo says point to your empathetic nature.

Physical Signs:

• Getting physically exhausted after being in crowds
• Feeling drained after social interactions, even enjoyable ones (OMG I feel so seen!)
• Needing extra time alone to recharge

Emotional Signs:

• Absorbing other people's emotions like a sponge
• Feeling anxious or overwhelmed in emotionally charged environments
• Finding it hard to watch violence or cruelty in movies/TV

Social Signs:

• Feeling responsible for others' happiness
• Having trouble saying "no" to people who need help

Mental Signs:

• Picking up on subtle changes in others' moods
• Being highly attuned to body language and tone
• Finding it hard to distinguish your feelings from others' feelings

It sounds like I'm the empathetic friend, but are there any downsides to this?

I've been an empath for as long as I can remember and I've found that I have to 'recharge' my social batteries at times. I thought it was because I was trying to be superwoman by fixing others' problems, but it turns out theres more to it than that. Paruolo says, "Empathetic friends and people have an uncanny ability to sense others' emotional states even when unspoken, and frequently need recovery time after intense social interactions. They tend to be deeply affected by others' experiences and naturally consider situations from multiple perspectives."

In the long run, she says it can be "distressing" for some people to always feel the feelings of others. Over time, she says, "it can cause you to shut down and retract." This can look like not being as quick to respond to the funny memes your friends send you or not even answering their phone calls right away.

But, this doesn't mean you're the only person who tends to go through this. "Many empaths struggle with maintaining boundaries due to their deep emotional attunement," she says. Color me guilty because this sounds so much like me. It got so bad at one point that my sister nicknamed me 'Captain Save-A-Lot,' which is actually the clean version of what she truly meant. Still, empathy fatigue is no laughing matter nor does it mean you're defected. You just have the natural ability to show people their feelings are important to you.

How can I protect my peace as the empathetic friend?

You know you need to set boundaries, but what does that mean? Paruolo says, "The key is understanding that empathy needs to be balanced with compassion - it's not just about feeling others' emotions but also knowing how to help without depleting yourself."

One of the things she loves to do is "encourage empaths to set clear boundaries around their emotional availability and make time for regular grounding exercises." As with gratitude journaling, try to focus on an activity that calls for you to be present. Focus on what you can hear, see, touch, taste, and smell.

"Self-care isn't just a luxury; it's essential maintenance for empaths. This might mean scheduling alone time, finding a supportive therapist, or joining communities where you can process your experiences," Paruolo implores.

I know how to be there for others, but how do I ask for emotional support when I need it?

You may feel like it's impossible to ask others for help since your shoulders are the ones people cry on, but you're only doing yourself a disservice by not speaking up. No one's super resilient or able to handle all of their distressing feelings alone. We're not meant to.

It's the reason Paruolo wants you to speak up about what you need. "The most effective approach I've seen is being direct about your needs rather than hoping others will figure them out," she says. I made this mistake during postpartum and found myself expecting my family & friends to know exactly how I felt, but they're not mind readers. The more I verbally asked for help with little or big tasks, the more my mental and emotional load lightened.

Paruolo wants you to look at "asking for support as strengthening your friendships through trust and vulnerability, instead of waiting until you're overwhelmed." By the time you reach that point, you'll be ready to enter rage or full-blown shut down mode and they're not fun.

Avoid unlocking their proverbial doors by scheduling "regular check-ins with trusted friends," suggests Paruolo. "This creates a sustainable support system and helps prevent emotional crisis points.

1997: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr.'s First Introduction

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. officially met while they were working on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer, as reported by People. That's something I never really considered back then so this news makes my heart sing! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love watching it even though it's a killer flick.

1999: Sarah Makes a Quick Appearance in She's All That

January 2000: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr.'s First Date

The funny thing about their first date is that they weren't actually planning on going on one. They were just friends at the time and a last-minute cancellation turned into something more. Sarah told People Now, " "We were friends for a very long time. We'd had many dinners before. And we were supposed to go with someone else, and the third person didn't make it out and we decided to still go," she recalled.

April 2001: Their Accidental First Date Leads to an Engagement

Fate must've known something Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. didn't because they ended up getting engaged during the spring of 2001. ABC News shared that they announced the news during Gellar's birthday party.

September 2002: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. Make It Official

April 2009 — September 2009: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Enter Parenthood

In 2009 Sarah Michelle and Freddie Prinze Jr. not only announced they were preparing to welcome their first child, but they later did just that. Their daughter Charlotte Grace Prinze was born right before summer ended and we can only imagine how overjoyed the couple was.

April 2012: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Announce Their Second Pregnancy

Three years after announcing they were expecting their first child, People found out the couple were ready to expand with the announcement of their second pregnancy. A source reportedly said, "They love their little girl more than anything in the world and know that love will only multiply."

September 2012: Sarah Michelle Gellar Gives Birth To a Son

September 2017: The Couple Celebrates 15 Years of Marriage

Time flies when you're having fun love each other which brings a smile to my face when thinking about Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Sarah actually shared a touching video on Instagram that perfectly captured the happy couple throughout the years. Each photo in the video includes the year it was taken which really puts their relationship into perspective.

November 2019: Freddie Prinze, Jr. Opens Up About His Love For Cooking

It's long been rumored that women are the only ones who enjoy cooking, but that's not the case for Sarah Michelle Gellar. Freddie Prinze, Jr. told People in 2019 that he's the one who throws down in the kitchen. "It's never a hassle for me to cook dinner because I like it," he freely admitted.

This is so similar to my household because I know how to cook enough to survive, but I prefer to let my S.O. plan our meals. Sorry, not sorry!

October 2022: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. Are All About Their Kids Enjoying Their Youth

If you think this couple wants their children actively on social media, think again. She opened up about one of the rules she and Freddie have in place that seem worlds away from what's considered the 'norm.' "Our rules are probably stricter than most. Our kids don't have social media," she told So Mini Ways, Yahoo's Parenting series.

I know some people feel that kids should have access to things, but I'm on the fence about it now that I have a toddler. I remember what it's like having unlimited and unchecked access to the internet so I'm not sure if I'd want my kids to come across some of the things I did.

It may be controversial, but I applaud Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. for making this decision.

January 2023: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. Hit the Red Carpet for Wolf Pack

September 2023: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. Celebrate 21 Years of Married Life

I can't believe I'm typing this, but Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. celebrated 21 years of marriage last year. That means this couple has been going strong for two decades!

Sarah took to Instagram again to celebrate their love with a throwback picture from their wedding day on Instagram and my jaw is still on the floor.

If you need more proof that the couple are still very much in love, here's a more recent pic that Sarah shared on Instagram from earlier in the year. She's "Still celebrating and spoiling" Freddie years later, and I think it goes without saying that he loves it there.

Sigh the bar has been set HIGH, and I can't wait to see how they continue to grow with time.

November 2024: Freddie Prinze, Jr. Reveals The One Celebrity Experience They're "Good At Avoiding"

Despite the fact that paparazzi love to see (and often follow) celebrity couples, Freddie just revealed how he and Sarah have been able to keep things low-key. When Oldish's podcast co-host Randy Spelling asked how they stay out of the public — and how intentional they have to be to keep a low profile — Freddie said it's "by choice," and that "you can control it to a certain degree."

"I don't know how deliberate [others] are in trying to avoid that BS," he said on the podcast. "I know how easy it's been for us because I don't go anywhere. I don't go to parties. People don't see Sarah and I out and about at the popular places. We have our restaurants that we like, and they're not super trendy in places where paparazzi hang out. So we're good at avoiding it."

Sofia Richie Grainge's Daughter Is Already Building Her Communication Skills 

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Sofia stopped by the Therapuss podcast to chat with host Jake Shane about motherhood and talked about little Eloise's latest development. According to PEOPLE,, Shane revealed, "Eloise has a little baby phone, that we get to text, or I like to text." Though she can't respond just yet, Sofia told listeners that "whoever is with Eloise gets the phone."

Shane then joked about a mini 'heated' exchange he and Eloise had via text. "I said, ‘Eloise do you mind if me and your mommy talk about how perfect you are on the podcast today?’ And she said, ‘No, keep my name out of your mouth.’ And I said, ‘Eloise, excuse me.’ She said, ‘I hate you.'"

Jokes aside, Sofia is embracing being a mother. She told Shane that her "life makes sense now" because she's "never loved anything more." Also, she doesn't mind admitting she's "obsessed with her" and thinks Eloise is "perfect."

How sweet is this?!

Sofia Richie Grainge Shared A Sneak Peek Of Her Daughter

Sofia Richie Grainge is soaking up mommy life! She shared the sweetest pics of her family on Instagram and let the world know she wouldn't trade life with them for anything.

She's also keeping true to her word by not fully sharing baby Eloise's face, not that people seem to mind! Lily Collins commented, "😍😍😍😍🥹🥹🥹🥹" while other fans commented on how cute and perfect baby girl is.

All I can is that everyone loves an It Girl turned mom who's fully embracing the family life!

Sofia Richie Grainge Officially Announces Her Daughter's Birth

On Friday May 24, 2024, Sofia Richie Grainge announced the birth of her daughter on Instagram. She posted a photo of a tiny little foot, captioned, "Eloise Samantha Grainge 🤍5•20•24 best day of my life🤍"

Obviously family, friends, and fans alike are ecstatic about the news! Sofia's sister Nicole Richie commented, "I now have a new favorite EG. sorry Elliot 🐧💕" Other celeb love came from Lily Collins, Emily Ratajkowski, Ashley Tisdale, Katy Perry, and soooo many more!

We're so happy for this new mom, and we're absolutely wishing she, Elliot, and Eloise the best!

How did Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge find out they were expecting a baby?

Sofia Richie told Vogue that she found out the exciting news very early on, at just four weeks. She was on a trip to Milan for Fashion Week for the Prada show (you know, just It Girl things) and felt sick throughout. Though she initially brushed it off as jet lag, she came back and took a test, given that she and her husband had been casually trying since April of 2023.

When that faint line came up, she sent Elliot to CVS and pick up more tests. When they all came positive, the excitement ensued! They decided to only share their news with their parents when they hit the eight-week mark. Sofia was very intentional about her decision to keep things private for a while, as pregnancy can be scary and she wanted to protect her space and mental health.

What is the gender of Sofia Richie Grainge's baby?

This "It"-girl is having... a baby "It"-girl! That's right, Sofia Richie is expected a sweet baby girl. She told Vogue that she had her assistant buy party poppers that revealed the gender to her and Elliot. While both soon-to-be parents expected a boy, Richie's dream was to have a daughter. She says that Elliot is excited to be a girl-dad, especially because he grew up with lots of sisters.

Sofia also said that she's already curated quite a wardrobe for her daughter. She explained that since the moment she found out that she was pregnant, she's gone crazy with the online shopping. The vibe is "cute and girly," and she's been collecting pieces for years that she's excited to pass down to her baby one day!

As for the nursery, Sofia says she's all about pastel pinks — her vision is to bring a little girl's fantasy to life!

What kind of mother did Sofia Richie Grainge say she hopes to be? 

The girl on all our vision boards has her own vision of how she's approaching motherhood. She explained to Vogue that she wants to be a role model for her daughter and raise her to be a smart and kind person. Manners are kindness are things that she really values and things that she says were instilled in her at a young age.

She wants to be her daughter's best friend in a way, and ultimately help guide her through life. TBH, it's giving Lorelai and Rory, and I'm all here for it! Richie recognizes the importance of balance in parenthood, hoping to strike the right blend of being protective without going overboard. She also wants to refrain from publicizing her child and wants her to have the option to be a private person.

How did Lionel and Nicole Richie react to Sofia Richie's pregnancy?

The famous singer and Sofia's father, Lionel Richie is clearly excited and seems ready to be a grandfather to another baby! He reposted one of Sofia's Vogue pictures with the caption, "My little girl is having a baby!" Nicole Richie also re-posted one of the photos from the shoot with a heart and crying face emoji. I think it's safe to say this baby is being born into a family rich with love!