Everyone has had that friend that meets a new boy, and then all of the sudden you don’t hear from them for weeks or even months. They’re totally infatuated with this boy and they spend every second together. Well, I am that friend.

I know it sounds selfish, but when I first started hanging out with my soon-to-be boyfriend, I did blow off my friends. I wanted to learn more and more about this person I was so quickly falling for, and that is okay; because when your friend starts dating someone, it is important to realize that their new significant other is going to take up a majority of their time, and how can they not? Right now, they are probably thinking about them every second they are away, maybe even longing to be with them, so why deny them that pleasure?

A significant other should be the person you can trust more than anyone, the person you can unashamedly be your true self in front of, the person who will always be there for you no matter what time of day or what the situation is. Doesn’t that sound a lot like what a best friend should do? That’s because, in a way, they are a best friend. That shouldn’t be taken as an insult, because there are some relationship needs that only a boyfriend or girlfriend can fulfill.

It might seem hard, but you need to understand that you are still their best friend, just not in a lovey-dovey way like their boyfriend is. Give it time and they will quickly realize they need to get away and enjoy some girl time.

So next time you feel like your friend is ditching you for a new fling, don’t get too upset. They still know you’re there, and they haven’t “replaced” you. They are just excited and can’t seem to get enough of this new found love. Your best bet is shooting them a text and letting them know you’d like to get lunch or maybe check out that new horror flick that just came out. New love is a strange animal, and keeping that in mind will help you out more than any other advice possibly could.