Once you become a mom, there's no denying that finding all kinds of mom friends is incredibly important for maintaining your sanity. You absolutely need women to commiserate with about the hell that is sleep deprivation or the frustration of trying to get your 4-year-old dressed every morning (seriously, why is it so hard to put on a clean, matching outfit?!). Just yesterday, one of my best friends from college called to ask advice about how to clear a clogged milk duct and, gosh darn it, I knew exactly what to tell her because I had a couple of my own not too long ago. This stuff is vital.
But, while the mama network is invaluable, after spending the last five years entrenched in the pregnancy, baby, toddler, and preschooler world, I'd argue that my friendships with nonparents have been equally important. Sure, they don't know whether your baby's poop is normal and they can't offer a single sleep strategy, but here are the oh-so-crucial services they do provide.