We all know how difficult it becomes to make new friends the older we get. Without the social aspect of school and regular group activities, finding someone you can chat with (and confide in) feels, at times, impossible. For stay-at-home moms, that impossible feeling just intensifies. You may not be alone all day, but that doesn’t mean you don’t feel lonely sometimes. These are completely natural and normal experiences. As rewarding as parenthood is, it’s also important to recognize that it can be isolating, especially for parents who don’t have coworker friends to rely on.
Source: Flickr user Janita
We are starting a blog series to help bring parents, especially stay-at-home moms, together, city-by-city. Starting with the beautiful Wichita, Kansas, we will share ways that you can meet other parents in your area and find like-minded friends. Friendship is vital to living a full life and it shouldn’t stop when you become a parent. This is especially true for adoptive parents who need to build support circles of all kinds. From swapping parenting tips, to sharing recipes and enjoying each other’s company, friends make life more complete.
Online
MeetUp website – This is a central place where people can post and create meet-ups for parents. Some users report great success, while others find that responses can be slow or limited. This is an easy way to start and that takes very little time and initial commitment, so give it a try if you want to test the waters.
Blogs – There are lots of blog resources written and run by fellow parents. Check out Circle of Moms for up-to-date meetup plans, group offerings, and more.
In-person groups
Parents as Teachers (PAT) playgroup – These groups are meant to be informal ways for children to play and parents to meet and have social experiences with adults and for their kids. The dynamic of each group is different and based on what parents need. Check with your local public school for details about groups already happening and don’t hesitate to join. Lots of parents report great success with these local groups.
Church groups – Most churches offer a large variety of meetups and events for parents. Ask your church or check the newsletter for offerings. If a meetup isn’t available, then you might be the one to start it! We bet there are lots of other parents, and possibly adoptive parents, looking for the exact same thing.
You might also look at The Treehouse, a group offering educational programs for parents during the school year. They want provide moms and children with better, more fulfilling lives. Moms are encouraged to share parenting struggles in a Christian and non-judgmental environment.
Library story times – The City Moms blog posted updated information for 2016 and library story times are available Monday – Saturday at various locations. This is a great chance to expose your child to a variety of fun books and also meet fellow parents in your area.