As far as I’m concerned, a mother can never have too many mom friends.  Frankly, I’m highly suspect when someone says they don’t need anymore friends.  Over the course of parenthood, friendships inevitably come and go. 

There’s simply no guarantee that the girlfriend you met at a “mommy and me” class is going to stick around for the long haul–and just because you share a friendship doesn’t mean your child will also want a friendship with the other child.  Parenting has a terrific, although slightly gut wrenching, article that drives this point home.

Since becoming a mother, I’ve begun to amass a steadily growing network of mom friends.  While I wouldn’t say that every friendship earns the earmark of ”BFA” status, each friendship is special and as unique as the friend herself.  For example, the bond and discussion I share with C* is completely different from that shared with S*.  C* loves to spend our play dates outside, talking exclusively about all things baby.  S* on the other hand, loves to shop and talk about…well, everything non-baby.

Mom friends are more than emergency babysitters.  Mom friends can help ease the lonely, frustrating, scared, or sad moments of parenthood, and share in the happy ones, too. 

When I first became a mom, I remember a time when I wondered, “gee, now that I’m a mom, how do I find ‘mom’ friends?”  Three babies later, I know that finding friends is actually easier than it seems–probably the most challenging part is getting to spend time with them once you become friends (and what mom doesn’t need “girl time” or a mom’s night out)!

New friendships can surface in the strangest places and when you least expect them.  The pediatrician’s waiting room.  The park.  The grocery store.  The library.  Starbucks.  Your child’s school.  Your health club.  Online.

I think the key to finding new friends is being receptive to the possibility of new friendships.  Smiling at a mom, offering to help a mom when it’s apparent she needs a hand, or starting a conversation with a mom are often simple keys to opening the new friendship door. 

Sure, it’s not always easy or comfortable to make new friends, but it gets easier the more you try, especially when you come to realize that underneath it all, there’s not a mom out there who doesn’t need a friend.

What’s the “strangest” place you’ve met a new mom friend?