Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda knew it. So did Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia. Behind every great woman, there are more great women. Friendships with other women are one of the little treasures that we as women are so lucky to find. Some take years to develop, some have that mysterious X-factor that draws you to each other immediately. Every friendship is unique, but over the years I have found that there are 4 types of friends that every woman should have.

The Wife Friend

The friend that will take care of you when you’re sick. Bring you crackers and ginger ale and rub your feet while you moan about how you have never felt so bad. She tells you even in your sweaty, slightly green state that you’re beautiful, and she means it. This is the friend who will drive you to your first mammogram because you’re nervous. She will be your date for your cousins wedding when you’re single, or your husband is away, and she will buy you a good luck present the day before a big presentation. We all need the friend that will love us for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.

The Mean Girl Friend

We aren’t talking about a friend who will tear you down because she can, we mean the friend who doesn’t mince words and calls it like she sees it. The one who will be the first to tell you to lay off the Botox, or that you need to stop being such a whiny baby about work. She is the one who tells you that you are indeed too old to wear knee high Uggs with cutoffs, but she will also text you a picture of the newest Rag and Bone denim shorts with gladiator sandals because she thinks you can totally pull it off. Every woman needs a slightly bull-headed friend in her life. They keep us in line, look out for us, and love us. Because no bad girl will ever waste her time with someone she doesn’t deem worthy.

The Child Friend

The friend for whom you are all knowing. Listens to your advice, stories and recipes taking in the words and insight, holding on to it. This isn’t about a friendship with someone younger, this is just a woman who doesn’t judge you for the things your still judging yourself on. She only sees how you came through unscathed, stronger, smarter and more amazing than ever. She calls you to share her accomplishments, ask your advice on everything from men to money, and listens to your stories with an open mind. This is the friend who reminds us that we are smarter than we give ourselves credit for, and worthy of love even after the most mortifying of moments.

The Cheerleader Friend

Go go get ’em, get ’em! You can do it, you can get that job, that man, into that school and pull off red hair! The cheerleader friend makes us feel strong when we are facing a giant hurdle or opponent. The voice reminding you why you deserve that promotion. She believes and convinces you that your new hair color is pretty and you CAN pull it off, even if you feel like Strawberry Shortcake. She is there to tell you that you can.

Regardless of the type of friend, one thing rings true, the luckiest of us are better women because of the love, laughter, support and friendship other women provide us. We need to remember that, take care of each other, and laugh with each other. Because nobody understands a woman like another woman.