I need a church-like family without so much church

I used to go to church when I was younger, and have attended many services of several different religions. It's not the religious part of church that I miss, but it's all the other stuff. You know - the family, the community, and the friends that you make at church. I remember connecting with people at a different level. I remember meeting new friends that I still have today. And I remember the unconditional support I received from all of those folks.

Outside of a church, it is much harder to establish those connections. There are very few groups that bring people together for a shared experience that connects them at the level that a church does. And my trouble is that in my world, especially in this area, I don't have that connection with more than a few people.

I have a small group of girlfriends, but not folks who get together regularly to visit, or for that matter even know each other. Folks here are so busy that even Moms Night Out isn't well attended. School is another avenue that might be a good one to connect with folks, but we have kids from all over the county at our school, plus a large population of parents that don't speak any English. This is where I've made the most connections though - to other parents at school - even if they are far away. And recently I met a bunch of the folks in the neighborhood - a snowstorm does a great job of bringing snowbound folks together. But I am still missing that critical link to a small group of folks who I've bonded with tightly. I'm not quite ready to step foot back into a church for the purpose of worship, but the draw to find that kind of a home is definitely strong. 

This is an original DC Metro Moms post. 

Suzie also blogs about life in a household of six over at Confessions of a Not So Well Behaved Woman.