by Becky Vieira posted in Parenting

I?m never prepared when I see her. It usually happens when I?m at the library for story hour or just as we're leaving gymnastics class. And it also never fails to be a day I haven't showered, but I work up my courage and cross the room to try and talk with her.
How to catch a mom friend
It usually begins with a few warmup questions as I desperately try to show my interest while proving to her that I?m not a complete weirdo: ?How old is (insert baby name here)" Is this your first"? Then I try to find some common ground to connect us, such as ?Where did you deliver"? or ?Do you ever go to the local pool"? If I feel like things are going well up to that point I take a deep breath and blurt it out before I lose my confidence. ?Do you want to get together for coffee"? And no, I?m not describing the last time I tried to ask someone out on a date. This is me attempting to make mom friends.
If you?ve ever asked someone out on a date you have an idea of what it?s like. Except this is worse. Much, much worse. You're basically inviting strangers into your life -- to be a part of your child's life -- because you live in close proximity to one another and you have kids the same age. It's a bizarre concept when you really stop and think about it.

Friend friends vs. Mom friends
I have friends. I have wonderful, close friends I?ve known for years, some since childhood. But what I don't have are mom friends. Yes, some of my f...