5 Ideas to Find a Mom Community

Where’s my Mom Community?

As a new mom, that was all I wanted. A mom group that got together, encouraged one another and our kids just played while we drank warm drinks.

But, where was my group? Where do I find them? Where do I make these friends who understand the life changes I am going through? Who understand the long nights and sleepy days? Who understand that somedays, I just need company?

When my daughters were young, I didn’t feel like I had a big community. So, I prayed about it and year after year I was blessed with more mom’s to connect to. But it took work. I didn’t just sit at home. It took effort and here I will share some ideas I have found to work.

1. Get involved in church activities.
2. Find a MOPS
3. Go to parks
4. Video Chat
5. Sports

Church

Make it priority. I knew when we moved to our house it would be further away from where our church family meets. I knew it would take more gas and more initiative to go weekly and to make it to events; But I continued to get involved and make those connections with the other moms that went. When there were ladies devotionals I could take my babies with me, I went. The ladies were not my age or had children the same age as me, but they had children. They were great encouragers, they carried wisdom and loved on my baby.

MOPS

Unfortunately when I was about to join MOPS covid happened, but I know a lot of mom’s who benefited from attending. They met women there who they created and maintained life-long friendships with. If you are not familiar with MOPS, it stands for “Mother’s of Preschoolers”.  To read their mission statement, click here.

Parks

I have to thank Melinda for starting this! She was the first one to invite me to go walking with her and her kids. Walking with other mom’s for friends, doesn’t even have to be at a park. It can simply be the road by your house.

1 Thes 5:11- Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I love when I would meet up with a friend and go for a walk.  They got me out of the house, adult conversation, and gets me moving in ways I otherwise wouldn’t at home by myself.  There may have been days when it was a challenge to walk.  When at times your hands are so full and the baby gets heavy from wearing, but those are the memories that last. There also, may be times you aren’t even be able to get a good conversation in due to the children running away or jumping in to creeks, but just remember you at least got some good endorphins, vitamin D, and a better connection with a friend.

Video Chat

Face-Time, Marco Polo, Google Chat, Zoom. These have been amazing avenues to use, especially when my family was cooped up during our preemie baby’s birth, home arrival and then covid. It allowed me to connected with my sister in laws, cousins and friends that live far and near. One conversation that I will never forget is when I was talking with my cousin about all the ways I still blamed myself for my child’s early birth and she gave me wisdom that I still carry with me. She reminded me to remember God’s truth. So when you’re struggling to find those friends and connections you desperately want remember to keep God’s truths in your mind. Don’t let Satan’s lies become your truth.   There may be times we hear ourselves say, “no one wants to be my friend”, “I’m too awkward”, “my house is too messy”, etc.  Yet, God tells us, he is always there for us, he provides for our needs, he made us in his image.  We allow our minds to think a clean house and perfect conversation is what people are looking for, but I know for me it was to feel connected and not alone.  All the other stuff disappeared and didn’t matter when together with a friend.

Sports/Play Dates

We have been so blessed to meet other mom’s with children the same age from gymnastics or their preschool programs.   It’s helpful to get involved in your community.  Make those connections and invite people over in to your home.  Take the leap!

After using these ideas to make the initial connection, it didn’t just stop there. It took work of reaching out and texting them, checking in, asking how they are doing, listening, encouraging, sending cards, food, etc.

I hope this encourages you to keep fighting to find/make your Mom Group, you can place around you and support you when you need it.

Below are some bible verses I have found to be good reminders and motivators. Enjoy.

Hebrews 10:24-25 — And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Ephesians 4:29 — Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Hebrews 3:13 — But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Philippians 2:3-4 — Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.