A card from Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Adult Friendships (Player 1)
Each of you gets this card because friends are key to your health, happiness, resilience, career, and sanity. Whether it’s grabbing coffee after school drop-off, a dinner date, a networking event, or a weekend trip away, nurturing friendships will reap huge dividends. Friendships are not a luxury you’ll make time for in the future so use this card guilt-free now. No partner resentment allowed either, as a girls’ or guys’ night out is about so much more than a cocktail. It’s about cultivating relationships that will support and sustain you along with boosting the health of your marriage.
Holding this card means owning all three
Conception
You need friends
Planning
- Prioritizing which friends are most important to you
- Scheduling coffee, lunches, dinners, events, trips with friends
Execution
- Connecting with friends weekly (phone, text, email)
- Taking time to remember friends’ birthdays, successes, challenges
- Supporting friends during both happy and sad times
Suggested Minimum Standard of Care
Do you have friends and do you see them?
A starting point. You and your partner agree the real standard together, and the holder meets it without reminders.
Holding it well
- This card is dealt to each of you. Nobody holds it for their partner.
- The holder owns all of it: noticing, planning and doing. No “just tell me what to do.”
- Agree the Minimum Standard of Care together, then let the holder meet it their way.
- Not working? Bring it to the weekly check-in and re-deal it. Don’t take it back mid-week.
Put this card on your table
Deal it, agree its standard, and see who holds what. Free.