My wife has a 14 year old boy from a previous marriage. I knew I could depend on her for some "been there, done that" wisdom. What surprised me was how much more there was to it. 14 years later, she's a different woman in different circumstances.I wholeheartedly agree with building the network of mommies (and daddies). Most of our friends are older. They're childless by choice or by emtpying of the nest. The arrival of the Little One shifted the group dynamic more dramatically than I ever imagined it could.Now my wife is working meetup.com and other communities. Our childless friends couldn't care less about the color and consistency of diaper contents. It's ceaselessly fascinating discussion with other parents.