kids to the rescue: how to meet new pals

babies are to moms what puppies are to bachelors. they're a conversation starter with a stranger; a stranger you'd like to get to know. for moms it's to swap stories about breastfeeding, teething and sleep schedules, whereas the bachelor is just hoping to swap spit.

i've moved around a bit in the past 10 years and have to tell you, it has been MUCH easier to meet people with a baby in tow than without. i've found that most new moms are prone to have the same "what the heck am i doing" look on their faces and are open to saying hello to a fellow mamacita. hey, after being home all day talking to your baby, trying to figure out whether they're hungry, tired or just plain cranky, it's no wonder! us moms crave adult interaction.

i've signed up for a bunch of different baby & me classes. i'm sure there is some benefit for the baby, but frankly at this young an age, it's for moi. we've tried yoga, gym, and music so far, and are considering swim for the winter. my main hesitation with swim class is that i too will have to go in the pool, which means i'll have to put on a bathing suit. you do the math. in the most recent gym class, my little guy slept through the first half while i swapped pediatrician information with the mom next to me. so you see, it's a win-win situation. your baby works on their developmental skills while you work on your social skills.

so if you're a new mom looking for new mom friends, get out with your kid & start talking to people. take a class, talk to the madre next to you at the grocery store or the sale section at janie & jack. you're bound to find at least one mama out there to exchange stories with and call a friend.

oh, and if you don't have a kid, get a job. i've met a few amazing people at past jobs that have since evolved into very dear friends. and if your colleagues are the pits, or you don't have any, go searching online. there's tons of groups to join in or around your neighborhood: kickball, book club, cooking class, bingo, knitting etc. happy hunting!