February Bunco Night!

What a party!  Last Friday, the Naperville Moms Network (napervillemomsnetwork.com / @NapervilleMoms) got together for our monthly bunco session and the turnout was fantastic!  Usually we have anywhere from 4-8 people that attend, and this month there were SEVENTEEN wonderful women that showed up for a night of food, laughter, wine, and bonding ( as well as a little bunco) at the fantastic Smith residence.  Seven of the moms that attended were either new to Naperville Moms Network entirely or had just never been to a bunco night.  Also present was our amazing leader Dr. Cathy Subber, who took a few minutes to talk about the history of the group, her place in it, and encouraged all of us to go around the room and just take a moment to tell our stories.  It was amazing to listen to the similarities that all of us had to each other - moms who worked or stayed home with their children, had lived here their whole lives or just relocated to the area, had new babies or multi-generational children like me (20, 6 and 3) - all striving for the same thing.  To connect with like minded women and forge real friendships in our community.  One of the new members likened it to online dating for friends!  It was a joyful evening of women empowering other women and getting to know each other in a non-judgemental, non-competitive format that encouraged everyone to share their experiences.  I am super excited that our little bunco group is growing by leaps and bounds!  It's fabulous that women in our community are setting aside the anxiety that comes with going somewhere alone for the first time, jumping in with both feet, and realizing that there are women just like THEM that they can connect with.  Another new member commented that she had never met a more friendly, caring, and funny group of ladies and that she didn't even feel like a newbie!  I know how she feels, because I felt the same way after my first bunco night.  Other moms groups may be different (one of our new members was sent a rejection email from a moms group she wanted to join saying that after they met her, they weren't accepting new people at this time?!?!) but the Naperville Moms Network welcomes all, takes care of all, and loves all.  That's just how we roll!

Thank you to the fantastic Dana Marie for doing such a amazing job hosting February.  The bar has definitely been set high for future hostesses (which includes me next month!)

Thank you to all of the women who donated to the Valerie Jones Fund.  As Dr. Cathy explained, Valerie is a member of the network who is fighting an aggressive form of breast cancer.  Almost all of our social gatherings are also fund raisers for something, and bunco nights are for Valerie. We raised over $100!

For more information on the Naperville Moms Network, go to napervillemomsnetwork.com or follow them on Twitter @NapervilleMoms


Photo credit:  JustJen