Mandy Moore, 41, says motherhood changed the friendships she leaned on the most.
During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of the “Conversations with Cam” podcast, Moore spoke about adjusting to how her relationships have changed as people enter different chapters of their lives.
“Do you feel like you have seen a friendship sort of take a different course? Like, I have friends who have kids that are older, let’s say,” Moore told host Cameron Rogers. “And I have found that the people I am closest with in my life right now are people who are kind of at the same chapter of their lives as parents, like we have kids the same age.”
“I’ve had to sort of mourn in a way, not the loss of those friendships, but like how they’ve changed,” Moore said.
Rogers said she’s experienced similar changes in her own friendships but tries not to take it personally.
“And I also think that the most important thing is giving everyone grace,” Rogers said. “Because, you know, I’m not included in everything by certain people who are in different stages, and that’s also OK.”
Moore and her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, have three children: Gus, Ozzie, and Lou.
The singer said she was caught “off guard” by how some of her friendships evolved, but acknowledged that motherhood has changed who she instinctively turns to for support.
“I’ve been surprised by it,” Moore said, adding that she had assumed that all of her relationships would continue in the same way.
“They wouldn’t be the first people I would reach out to right now when I’m like, ugh, Gus has changed his mind seven times about what he wants to be for Halloween,” she said.
Moore said she ultimately formed a close-knit group of friends who were also raising young children during the pandemic.
One of the central figures in that group, Moore said, was longtime friend Hilary Duff, who took the lead in organizing those early meetups.
“She sort of started this music class at her house and like, gathered a group of incredible women, and I brought a few into the fold as well,” Moore said.
Over time, the group grew closer and began to spend time together more informally.
“People get together for holidays, people get together for birthdays. We go to the zoo. You know, it’s like just all the things you do collectively as like, a friend group,” Moore said.
The group became a source of connection and support, she said.
“The mom chat is always like popping off with questions, comments, concerns, fun gossip, all the things, you know. And so they mean everything,” she added.
Moore has previously spoken about the role her mom friends play in her life.
In a 2021 interview with InStyle, Moore said she’s “made so many wonderful friends” through the group that grew out of her friendship with Duff.
“It’s so much fun. I’m very, very grateful to have those resources and just incredible women to be able to lean on. We’re all kind of going through this chapter of our lives together,” Moore said.
Moore told People in 2025 that she appreciates how she’s able to lean on the friendships that she’s made after becoming a mom.
“There’s just something about the collective chaos that parents endure together that makes them especially equipped to handle anything,” Moore said.
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