Jules Maas and her husband were shocked when they found out they were having triplets in 2010 and they weren’t sure where to begin.

That fall, four months before their daughters were born, Maas began attending Valley Moms of Multiples Club and found the human connection she’d been searching for.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” said long-time club member Amy Spies, whose twins are 26, of parenting multiples.

The club’s monthly meetings gave Maas a chance to get out of the house for a few hours and connected her to other moms who knew what it was like to have multiples.

“There isn’t a lot of time to get out but I think if I didn’t I’d go crazy,” Maas said.

Spies recalled the “now what?” moment she had when she got in the car to take her twins home after they were born. Spies went to the group sporadically with a friend and joined officially when her daughters were 2.

Besides the monthly meetings with speakers and time for the moms to talk about what is going on with their multiples, the group also offers support and outreach to families of multiples, volunteers with and donates to local charities and hosts other events and a bi-annual sale of gently used children’s items.

“People are really looking for help,” Maas said. “Books and articles are great, but they won’t help you in a pinch.”

The club is affiliated with the Northwest Association of Mothers of Twins clubs and has members from around the area with multiples of all ages. Some of the club members are traveling to Spokane this weekend for the annual conference — a chance for moms to get away for a weekend and participate in workshops and activities.

The location and theme of the conference changes every year, this year the association is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is utilizing a retro theme.

“The speakers are usually phenomenal,” Spies said. “I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and I’ve never heard a bad one.”

One of the highlights of the weekend is the Friday night party that is a chance to dress up and let loose.

“No guys allowed, no kids allowed, and that’s all I can tell you,” Spies said.

Maas joked that she might sleep the entire weekend.

“For the last two years I’ve run on adrenaline and not a lot of sleep,” Maas said.

On a serious note she added that she’s looking forward to the workshops, especially one about how to turn your hobby into an at home business.

When it comes right down to it the group is about building friendships and supporting one another.

“We want to help people who are in this situation, whether their kids are young or old,” Spies said.

For Maas and her husband the help and support of the group has been invaluable.

“It makes you feel a lot less alone,” Maas said. “It’s very solitary sometimes, having multiples.”

For more information on Valley Moms of Multiples visit the club’s website at www.valleymomc.org.

Reach Katherine Smith ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com or 425-432-1209 ext. 5052.