Making and Keeping Friends: Moms Talk

There was a song we'd sing in Girl Scouts about friendship.

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold..."

As adulthood goes on, building and maintaining friendships can be a challenge. People move away from where they grew up, they get married, have children, and, sometimes, change as people. And then there's the whole finding time for friends between responsibilities to spouse, kids, job, parents, home, etc.

Having friends can help keep parents sane. Veteran parents can provide reassurance and the wisdom of their experiences. New parents like you can help you feel less alone. Childfree friends can keep you connected to that part of you that has feelings, interests, opinions and likes that have nothing to do with your children.

Today, let's talk friendship and parenthood. What do your friends give to your life?

Social media like Facebook can make staying connected easier, but sometimes nothing beats face-to-face time. If you could have an afternoon of uninterrupted friend time, what would you do?

Can you be friends with a fellow parent whose parenting choices are different from your own?

How have you kept friendships going over years and changes?

Share ideas, thoughts and memories in the comments.

Joining us, as always, is our super Moms Council.

 is a freelance reporter with Patch. Julie, a longtime reporter and communications professional, is a first-time mom of a son born in November.

 works in public relations. She and husband Timothy have a daughter, Amara. Monina is also a member of the Disney Moms Panel, one of 15 moms selected nationwide, advising people online about planning Disney vacations.

 is a mom of three children ages 5 and under with her husband, Bill. They are expecting their fourth child this winter. She also works part-time.

 is a native of New Jersey. She is a marketing professional who has worked in advertising, market research, vending and equipment companies. She and her husband live in Avon with their two children.

 is a mom to a Girl Scout and lives in Avon.

 is the newest member of the  and past president of Avon Early Childhood PTA. She will also be blogging for Avon Patch. If you're a parent and want to share your experiences raising children in Avon, you, too, can .