Being a stay-at-home mom is trying on the best day. The best solution I’ve found to break up the monotony? Friends. Mommy friends. Play groups. While just getting out of the house is helpful, having mommy friends that you really get along with makes a world of difference. Being around others who relate to your situation and can offer advice, support or just a listening ear is immensely beneficial. However, I’ve found that you’ve got to find the perfect group to get the benefit.
When Honeybun was a baby I went to the local University for mommy and me classes (which were very expensive) and made no friends. Despite attending regularly and getting along with many of the moms, no friendships were ever formed. It was not until we moved to Dublin that I ever really had a mommy friend. Within the first month of arriving, we were immersed in the playgroup that we remained a part of until the week we left and although the group constantly changed with families moving in and out of the area, the group was a fantastic fit for us and we loved every meet up. We looked forward to each Monday when we would attend the group. I planned our trips to be home each Monday and I dreaded weeks when there was a holiday and no group meet up. I loved the intimate feel of the group in Dublin where we had a core group of fewer than 10 families that attended most meet ups. Not every family came every time and there were others that came in and out, but the core group remained strong and provided a family feeling which was great since most of us were living thousands of miles from our families.
Upon returning to Florida we’ve met a few great moms and kids but have not yet found a great group that suits our needs. I joined a meetup.com group but never attended the meetups as they didn’t suit our schedule and needs. I’ve made a few friends through hubby’s work (spouses of co-workers) and a few at Honeybun’s school but life in America is so busy and our schedules rarely match to meet up. I attended a Breastfeeding Moms group my midwife ran and had a great time and met a few great moms but they only meet once a month so I expect it will take a while to form good friendships.
So, what’s a mommy to do? I’m taking matters into my own hands and trying my own thing. I’ve decided to start my own group. I hope to make it a regular thing with morning meetups and sometimes afternoon meetups for older siblings and moms nights out. There is a need for this sort of thing in my life, and my few friends seem to agree. We meet for the first time next week, I’ll let you know how it goes!
