You miss the camaraderie you shared with the other parent. You now find yourself wondering if the relationship that felt so real was actually just one born out of convenience. Should you move on and let your mom-friendship continue to fray, or should you try to reclaim the relationship?

I am here to tell you that you don't need mom friends. Because the last thing you want to do after spending the whole day changing your baby's diapers is spend the whole night listening to your friend complain about changing her baby's diapers.

During the last two years, I have had the privilege of making many new military mom friends. I have been so inspired by these incredible women -- their flexibility, their bravery, their loyalty, their commitment and their toughness.

hese women may be invisible in the anals of history but their strength and kindness will live on through their extraordinary families.

Although I might not have known it, my heart began its healing process the moment my eyes met Nella's for the first time.

When my son was two and all the other mothers were remembering to have a second, I was still exhausted (and breastfeeding) and wanting to find time to write and think and sit down for a minute.

I choose female friends the way other people choose tennis partners. You know, always play with someone better than you are. To improve your game. I instinctively home in on women who appear smarter, more accomplished and more together than me.

Yes, this blog is about cooking for babies and toddlers. But sometimes you've just gotta break the rules and today is my day to go rogue. Roll with me...

Motherhood is a lonely gig. This is the real issue, isn't it? We often read the wrong signals or make concessions to befriend someone we wouldn't otherwise for the sake of company.