One of the things that has always amazed me about the parents I know is how good at meeting and bonding with other parents they all seem to be.

Now that I’m in the trenches too, I get it– doing necessary/cool stuff for and with your kids brings you into contact with so many people with whom you immediately have at least a few things in common, plus you just need an awesome support network to avoid burning out.

And there’s nothing like the bond of sharing the joy of your children with other people who also take joy in your children or even just their own. I think we’re biologically programmed to respond to people who want to help our kids.

Friends with kids and without, parents whose kids share interests and activities with yours, biological family near and far… ideally it all meshes together into a beautiful glittering web of connections. Some will last longer and some will be deeper, but even the passing and casual connections seem to resonate with extra intensity for me right now.

Humans are communal creatures. All people need to find and build connected community, but I feel the need to nurture my connections and find my people more keenly than ever since BabyA came. For us as parents, and for BabyA too, to help him grow up with lots of other wonderful people in his life besides just me and his dad.

Then again, some people think the community-building, parent bonding, networking or what have you can get taken a little too far– or at least a little too seriously!

How do you foster community in your life?