By Wendy C 
I never thought I would expand my group of friends in my mid-30s and 40s. As an introvert, I wasn’t seeking any new people to include in my friend circle. I was perfectly happy with my existing friends, all of whom I could count on one hand.
But then I had kids, and my kids had friends they wanted to hang out with frequently. Which meant I was forced to befriend their friends’ parents—particularly their moms. Of course, this didn’t mean I needed to be best friends with every mom I met. And that didn’t happen. But I did happen to “click” with some of the moms I met, which made things so much easier for an introvert like me.
You see, I didn’t realize how much I would be conversing with the moms of my kids’ friends. It is these moms I talk to for all things local and school-related. I talk to these moms about my kids’ school or teachers because their kids go to the same school. If I have homework-related questions, I text these moms because their child is likely in the same class as mine, and they have the same homework assigned. If their kid forgets to bring home their study guide for a test, I am the mom they text because my kid likely brought their study guide home. Bonus: These are also the moms who tell me about a great place I can go to get my hair and nails done. (And it’s only a five-minute drive away!)
The point is, we help each other out.
This camaraderie I have found with these moms is gold. I realize how much I actually needed them in this stage of my parenting journey and how much I value their friendship. It’s these moms who, while not necessarily my “besties” or closest confidantes, remind me we’re all in this parenting boat together—in fact, our kids are in the same school, have the same teacher, and we live down the street from each other.
And the moms I have befriended through my kids remind me of the importance of having a village of (local) moms around when it comes to navigating parenthood.
by Christina Crawford 
by Jenny 
by Katelyn Stoll 
