If you’ve got a close group of mom friends you can rely on, you understand the importance of this post.
Motherhood is just as much of an amazing experience as it is a terrifying, frustrating, overwhelming one. Having a circle of moms to go through the journey with is the key to gracefully navigating all of the ups and downs.
Before we offer tips to help you connect with other mothers, let’s explore the benefits of getting close to other moms in your community.
Why You Should Get Close to Other Mothers in Your Community
Navigating motherhood without a tribe to lean on is absolutely possible. But the benefits of getting close to other mothers in your community are invaluable. You can learn from, rely on, and build trust with other moms.
In addition, you can form genuine friendships in a strong community of women and moms, something most moms tend to put on the back burner when they have kids.
Furthermore, moms share resources for professional support for work, mental health, parenting, and so forth that can be incredibly helpful to you on your journey.
Whether you’re struggling through the first weeks with a new baby, raising an elementary-aged child, or battling the teenage years, getting close to other mothers in your community can help.
Tips for Reaching out to, Meeting, and Developing Relationships With Other Mothers
Reaching out to, meeting, and developing relationships with other mothers in your community can be a bit scary if it’s not something you do regularly. However, these tips can help alleviate that feeling and make the experience more enjoyable.
Get to know your neighbors.
One of the first places you should look for other mothers to connect with is your neighbors. You probably live next door to or a few houses down from many moms looking for the same connection you are.
When you get close to neighboring moms, you open up a massive source of support you can lean on for childcare, parenting advice, life guidance, and genuine friendships with people who get what you’re going through.
You don’t have to show up at your neighbor’s door with a plate of cookies. But you can spend more time outside and meet moms that way. You could also attend neighborhood events, take your kids to the park, or stop at shops moms in your area are known to frequent.
To grow your support system of moms, start with the mothers you’re neighbors with.
Host events that bring moms together
One of the best ways to get close to other mothers in your community is to host events that bring you all together. It’ll allow you to connect with other moms in a more intimate setting to really dive into relationship-building.
For example, throw a fun outdoor dinner party once a month to bring your community of mothers together. Create a theme for each one and take pride in the space you use, decorations, and lighting to bring the entire aesthetic together. Don’t forget to check the weather and serve and store food appropriately.
If you want to get close to other mothers in your community, take the lead on bringing everyone together often.
Join groups dedicated to moms on social media
Getting close to other mothers in your community doesn’t have to begin and end with face-to-face interactions. Creating wholesome relationships with other mothers online is just as significant as doing so offline.
Meeting a new mom friend in person can be nerve-wracking. But doing so via a social media group can relieve some pressure. You can join national groups dedicated to moms on social media or narrow your search to groups in your area.
When you get into a group, make an introductory post and explore what’s been posted by other moms so far. Comment on things you love, need advice on, or want to learn more about. And don’t be afraid to send a direct message to moms you make connections with.
Leveraging social media to expand your mom group is a brilliant move.
Get involved at your children’s school
If you’re going to meet mothers in your community anywhere, it’s at school. Instead of limiting your time at your children’s school to drop-offs and pick-ups, get involved on a deeper level.
Join the parent-teacher association (PTA). Volunteer whenever possible. Attend school events with your children. Go to their plays, concerts, and presentations. Don’t forget about their sports and extracurricular activities too.
As you immerse yourself in the school community, introduce yourself to other moms close to you and see who you hit it off with.
Schools, sports teams, and other extracurricular activities are goldmines for meeting other mothers. Take advantage of them.
Make time for meaningful conversations
Going out for girls’ night, having lunch, meeting up for coffee, or another surface activity is definitely needed in your mom group. But so is making time and space for meaningful conversations.
Motherhood is a deeply layered experience. When you have other mothers around you who understand and experience the same things, it is easier to talk about the things you don’t want or know how to talk about.
Make time for meaningful conversations. They can be scheduled or impromptu. Have them at home, on the go, or in passing. And be there for your mom friends when they come to you needing a meaningful conversation as much as they’re there for you.
The more meaningful conversations you have, the more likely you will gain something life-changing.
Conclusion
Getting close to other mothers in your community is a beautiful thing. Although it takes time to grow authentic relationships, the resources, support, and friendships you acquire along the way that help you find your way through motherhood make it well worth it.
About the Author
Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and the search for the truth. You can find more of her writing on her Contently.