New here, and need help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
New here, and need help!
9
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 3:10pm

Hi everyone. I'm so glad I found this board. I'm a fairly new SAHM. I've been home for 3 weeks now, and I'm already in a rut. I have 2 boys ages 2 and 8 yrs. Obviously, I my 8 yr. old is in school all day, but I'm home with my 2 yr. old. I'm going stir crazy. I can't find any groups in my area for him to play with. The only thing I've found is a gymnastics place, but it's way too expensive for us.

What do you do with your time? How do I get out of this house any meet people? I'm fairly new to the area, so I don't really have any friends around to call on. I'm afraid I'm going ot get really depressed. I'm already pretty down, so I really want to change this before it gets worse. It's really great being able to be home and do this for my family when they need, but I can't let this be all I have.

What did you do when you first became a SAHM to get involved in order to be able to enjoy your life as a SAHM? Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks!



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 3:25pm
I thought I would suggest matchingmoms.com It is a great source to find a playgroup or some like minded friends. Hope this helps.
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readers
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 3:41pm
First of all, welcome to the board. Glad you found us.
My name is Mel. I am 25 years old and a sahm of 4 years to Andrew (6) and Dalton (20 months). We live in GA.
IVillage has plenty of boards for places all over the world. If I knew where you lived, I could get the link for you.
Try Moms.club.org. Good luck.





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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 4:13pm

Welcome to the board! I am Traci with two boys ages eight and three and one on the way.


You can also form your own group. I was very surprised when I formed a homeschool group on yahoo and now have 40 members in just a year. Just list it in your area and make a few rules, like they HAVE to meet with the group in the first month they sign up. Set meet ups for local parks first until you get to know them. You can then advertise your group at the grocery stores, libraries and other places you might think moms hang out. Most moms groups I know meet once a week and offer moms night outs or sports groups like bowling clubs or book clubs. Good luck! I hope besides this group that you can find some local women to chat with.


Traci

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-26-2004
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 4:35pm

Welcome to the board! I'm Amber, sahm to Elise-4 on Tues, Olivia-2, and baby to be Ava edd Nov 11. My dh and I have been married for 6 yrs and we live in Arkansas. I think the other ladies have given some great advice. Also these boards are one of my main outlets. I'm envolved with a few and I don't know what I'd do without them!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2003
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 9:53pm
Going for walks after dinner with my kids got me to meet some of the neighbors (some who have kids). Esp. in the summer, people are out enjoying the weather, watering lawns, whatever. Also, sometimes the local library might have a reading program for your toddler; a great way to meet parents with the same aged child. In addition, look in the phone book or surf the net for a local mom's support group. Maybe your child's school would even know of a parent group. Speaking of school, try joining the PTA (or whatever it is called at the school.) Great way to get to know parents at the school and possibly keep yourself busy. Is there something else having to do with the school that you could get involved in and possibly bring your toddler? Good luck to you. Hope things get better soon.
Andrea
SAHM 3.5 yrs. Mom to ds 3.5 and dd 1.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2003
Fri, 08-19-2005 - 9:55pm
Oh, I forgot to tell you that parks are a good place to meet other parents too. These messages boards have been very helpful/supportive too.
Andrea
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 08-20-2005 - 1:04pm

Thanks for all of the advice. I've tried matchingmoms.com, but there isn't anyone from my area signed up. I've also tried hanging out at the parks, but apparently nobody around here uses them. Nobody else ever showed up. I'll try the library next month. They're story time doesn't begin again until mid-September. I've been to the ivillage boards set by location, but there isn't one for anywhere in my state that I can find. I've joined momsclub online along with several others. It just seems like I keep hitting dead ends.

I'm sure something will happen soon. I keep thinking that I'm just going to have to get something started in this town. Surely with this few outlets, there are other moms starving for social activity.



iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2004
Sat, 08-20-2005 - 6:36pm

I have to agree with the poster who suggested joining the PTA at your son's school. Not only do you get to meet loads of people, but you can also contribute in a positive way to the school. As a side benefit, I've heard that kids do better at school when their parents are active in the school community.

Over the years of PTA stuff, I've organised a few fundraisers - a great way to get busy and meet people. Or even just doing a 'get together' - my DD is in Kindergarten and I organised a social evening (sans kids) at a local pub for all the parents to meet each other. It was such a success that I'm going to do another shortly.

Having said that, I find that fundraisers can be a bit draining, so these days my main contribution is to run the school's uniform shop. Interestingly enough, not only does it keep me busy (and social) but the kids are really proud to have me helping at school.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Sun, 08-21-2005 - 1:45pm
Like someone else mentioned.... Try starting one of your own on Yahoo or MSN or even AOL.
Post the group info in the paper, sometimes they do this for free.
Go to the library and mention you have a moms group and post flyers. Try doing this at the parks too.
Good luck.





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