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So she decided to stay at home and make them her top priority.

Coincidentally, the Raleigh Mocha Moms chapter has recently formed a Working Mochas subgroup, geared toward women who went back to work after their children got older but who still wanted to be part of the group, said Katrina Wiggins, the chapter's president.

Because a lot of people living in the Triangle aren't from here, they may not have a lot of family around them. Like their children going to school for the first time, these moms have to build an entirely new network of friends.

"Especially these days, to prosper, families are moving away from their hometowns," Hardison said. "And joining a group kind of helps you get a family."

"There are people to call if you need a baby sitter. If you're sick, we'll bring meals to you," she continued. "It's almost as if you had a sister in town. It gives you a sense of community."

They have moms-only gatherings, where they can just be girlfriends and just be silly. And they have couples-only events, where they can "date their husbands."

"Everyone's so smart and funny and interesting. It's definitely changed my life in this last year in terms of making me happy," Rahman said. "Sometimes, you can kind of forget what it's like talking to adults [when you're around your children all day]," she said. "And you can also remember you're a person with interests and thoughts."

Though Hardison is moving to Baltimore soon to join her husband, she's not quite ready to leave her new family behind.

"You know, when I move, I expect them to visit."

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