New SAHM Question - Mom's Clubs?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2003
New SAHM Question - Mom's Clubs?
5
Mon, 10-25-2004 - 11:48pm
Okay - I have been a SAHM for about one week now :-) and I have a really basic question. How do you join a mom's group? How do I find women with young babies like me? I am 35 years old and quit my job as an attorney to stay home with our daughter, so all of my girlfriends are people I met through work. Are these groups formal organizations or are they just groups of friends? (or both?) I feel so silly asking, but I really don't know anything about this, and I'm afraid that if I don't find some friends who I can meet during the day I may get a little stir crazy! Thanks so much for any practical advice about this! One other question -- how do you find a group of women that you like? I feel almost like I'm starting to date again! I want to join up with a group of women, but would like to find some that I have similar interests, values, etc. Maybe I should try a personals ad! :-) "SAHM in search of same . . ."

Tina
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 2:46am
welcome Tina!!!

Sorry, I can't answer your question, as I have never personally had to look for a mom club. I had a few recommended to me by my sil when i was pregnant, but thankfully, I had a few close friends home with little ones at the same time as me..and to be honest, I hardley have the time to see them!!

I would suggest contacting your local hospital or community center, maybe they have ideas for you in your area. Best of luck!!!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:28am
check Ivillage and see if there is a local group that get together. We have one in St. Louis.
Jen H. Momma to Olivia 5, Sophia 2, and Aidan 1
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 8:06am
There are several ways to find mom's groups - there are several national groups with web sites. Check out Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), The Moms Club, and Mothers and More. I'm pretty sure that they each have web sites where you can do a search to see if there is a chapter near you. I was part of MOPS group for 4 years and it was wonderful - we met twice a month. I still keep in touch with some of the women I met there.

My closest friends, however, have come from an informal playgroup in a nearby neighborhood. We would meet at someone's house each Wednesday from 9:30-11:30 - the hostess would put out coffee and bagels and snacks for the kids, and the moms would just chat while the kids played. To hook up with one of these kinds of playgroups, you will just have to get out and meet other women who love near you. The best way to do this is to go to the park, go to storytime at the library, join a Gymboree or Kindermusik class - anything that you can do to be near other stay at home moms. Strike up converstions whenever you can - ask them if they are part of a playgroup and if you could start coming too. I found out about my playgroup sitting next to a woman at an Open House for a Mother's Morning Out program.

If you do get out and meet other women but still can't find a playgroup, consider starting one youself in your own neighborhood. It's not hard to do, and it will give you a great chance to get to know your neighbors better.

Whatever you do - you MUST get out there and meet other stay at home moms or you will lose your mind. You MUST have a support group in this crazy new life that you have started! Good luck!

Paige

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 3:30pm
I was going to suggest what another poster did -- check into local chapters of national groups. Also, if your baby is still pretty young, check local hospitals for new mothers' support groups -- I did this, and it was a lifesaver. You're usually expected to "graduate" yourself when your little one gets mobile enough to be a hazard to the newer babies, but some moms break off and form their own playgroups at that time.

One other suggestion is to check web sites like MSN Groups and Yahoo Groups. Many local moms' clubs use these web sites to communicate with each other. I think most of them have a search feature, so you could search for the city where you live. Good luck!

Avatar for lori_mcbride
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2003
Tue, 10-26-2004 - 7:36pm

Hi Tina,


Just wanted to let you know that I belong to an organization called MOMS club (moms offering moms support).

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