Finding Mom Friends, Support, and Communities

Being a new mother is extremely rewarding but can be so lonely. What we experience as mothers hits close to home and we need other women in our back pockets for the good times and the bad. That being said, finding new friends who are also new moms may be difficult depending on where you live and who you know in the area. It's great having family members around, but new mom friends will keep you sane while you go through the trials and tribulations of motherhood.

Here are a handful of ideas for meeting other parents and mothers in your area:

Meet Parents While Pregnant

One of the best times to meet other new parents is to attend prenatal yoga classes or childbirth education classes in your community or at your hospital. You will most likely find parents who are giving birth right around the same time as you and are also local. Many people who are teaching childbirth education classes also hold fourth-trimester support groups, so you may end up seeing these people more often. If you aren’t sure where to find these groups, ask your doula, they often have great information about these types of events.

Meet Your Neighbors

Depending on where you live, you probably have neighbors nearby who are going through the same phase of life as you. You may be able to create a little mommy group in your neighborhood. This is a fantastic way to meet stay-at-home moms as well if you are one yourself. It's as simple as playing outside and waiting for others to approach you, or approaching mothers as you see them in the neighborhood.

Say "Yes" to Invitations

As you get to know other mothers, say yes to their invitations. If you continually say "no", they will probably stop asking you. Then, you've missed out on meeting new moms and setting up playdates. Local moms will always have something going on whether it's meet-ups at parks or parent groups to keep each other sane. Don't be afraid to accept an invite for a drink or appetizers just to get out of the house.

Have a Mom's Night Out

Speaking of drinks out, be the one to organize a get-together. Invite other mothers in your mom tribe out for drinks. It's a fantastic way to get to know one another and decompress after a day with the kids. You'll begin finding other mothers with similar interests and your outings may become consistent throughout the month. You may be surprised to find that many of these women become some of your closest friends.

Meet the Parents of Your Kid's Friends

If your child goes to school or has met other kids in the area, don't hesitate to introduce yourself to their parents. It's the best way to meet parents who may become fast friends. You'll be able to hang out with someone fun and your kids will love playing with their friends. Plus, you will have something in common whether it's the school or wherever your kids met.

Sign Your Children Up for Recreational Activities

Another way to meet fellow moms is to sign your kids up for sports or community center activities. A sports field or court is a great place to meet fellow parents and mothers. You're already paying for your kid to be there, so it's a free social network for yourself.

Many libraries have a library story time that is PERFECT for meeting other local moms. You will meet single parents, mothers of multiples, first-time moms, nannies, and even grandparents. Check out your library's facebook page or website for story times.

Use Social Media to Help You Find Moms

Social media is a fun and safe space to meet other mothers online or in your area. There are fun apps like the Peanut App that help you find local moms to hang out with. Conversing with other moms going through similar things is so important for your mental health as well. You are able to bounce ideas off them and learn from others' experiences. Online moms groups are extremely helpful in keeping you sane.

Things to Keep in Mind When Finding Your New Friends

When searching for your new best friend, keep these few tips in mind. There may be a few factors that keep you from becoming fast friends.

Find other mothers that parent similarly to you. If you both parent in very different ways, you may butt heads. When your kids get into arguments, it may be more frustrating than enjoyable to get together.

Make sure they have a similar number of kids of similar ages. While this isn't a deal-breaker, it can assure that all kids are entertained by another child so your playdates serve as a little bit of a break.

You should be able to be yourself around them. If you find yourself buttoning up, and not letting loose, they may not be a good fit. You should feel comfortable spilling the tea and discussing the good, bad, and ugly with them. After all, they are going to be your form of therapy.

Search for mothers with common interests. If you enjoy reading, you may bump into other mothers at the library. If you enjoy needlework, try searching for a crafting club. There are tons of online groups full of moms who are also looking for a fast friend. Find your local mom group on Facebook by searching the name of your town or city along with the word mom. You will be surprised at how many online communities will appear. You shouldn't have a hard time finding these online groups.

To draw other mothers in even more, be sure to recommend our Dairy Fairy Nursing and Pumping Bras to the community. Other breastfeeding moms will thank you!