How do I meet other moms?

[ginkgoleaf]

My best mom friends are from a local super active moms group on Facebook. Meetup is also great, depending on the group. Or randomly meeting someone at a neighborhood park.

[kategm]

Do you have a Chickfila with an indoor play place? That's where everyone congregates at my town. I've had some really great conversations with other moms while at Chickfila. If I was less shy and knew I'd be living here longer, I'd pursue those contacts. I did exchange an email with one to get some info on a toddler music class and it wasn't awkward at all.

Is there a children's museum in the area? Go on a weekend and see who's there.

Your daughter is kinda young though, right? Maybe this advice isn't helpful.

[gibbinator]

The playground is a good place. I mean, you're just sitting there, half watching your kid and sort of bored, especially as they get older and more competent on the equipment. Really good opportunity for chatting. Eventually team sports would be similar I imagine, not sure your kid's age.

[minzy]

There are some good suggestions in here. I'd say, just start going to stuff, and keep showing up. Know it will take a little time and that you won't click with everyone, and that's okay. (I made a cheesy goal to make at least three friends after my daughter was born, to have people to invite to her first birthday party, which gave me a little motivation.) Talk to people, compliment them on something, mention some relevant upcoming thing (registration for something, community event, holiday, whatever), and follow up about it the next time you see them. Exchange info, make plans to meet at a neutral place if you don't want them coming to your house right away. I've made a ton of friends in the last five years this way (living in three different places), and have met my now-friends at Target, walking around the neighborhood, at school, sport and activity classes, the library, the park, the gym, birthday parties, etc. If you can meet someone who is a "hub" of a wheel (like a couple of my friends, and now, me, in a way, for some of them), you'll pick up a slew of people at once. Kids have been a natural source of initial conversation with other parents but they're certainly not all we talk about. It is kind of like dating. Good luck!

[polarbearfans]

Facebook! I joined several mom groups that get together for meet ups . It is a nice community of ladies.

[preppy]

Thanks for the advice ladies. S is only 6 months so some of these ideas will be great when she is older too.

[madringal]

When we first moved to our new neighborhood I put DD on her bike and we went for walks all around the neighborhood basically every day it was nice enough. And if I saw a mom with kids I would stop and introduce myself. DH thought I was crazy, but I was determined to meet other moms. I can honestly say this was the best thing I have done for our family in years. Some of my very best friends are the moms in my neighborhood now. The best part is that since they all live right here, all of our kids go to school together now. This has been great in terms of sharing school info, needing help getting someone off the bus, sharing pics of field trips someone can't go on, volunteering together, sharing info about teachers/homework/other moms

I did a lot of leg work to get here. It was really out of my comfort zone to start those conversations. And I hosted a lot more play dates then I was invited to in the beginning. But it paid off.

[sunshine608]

I met mine through LLL and then through a local B/S/T page. I bought a walker from one of the moms and she invited me.

I tried to start a FB group for Working moms in my area but then realized I didn't have the time- the big catch 22. The group I'm in is mostly SAH moms. There are 2 other working moms and we just go to the events on the weekend or if we happen to have an off day during the week. I have taken lunch to take him to a play date before. It sucks but that the only way I can really build a connection. He doesn't go to daycare.

[hocus2]

Apr 4, 2016 17:45:40 GMT -5 preppy said:

Apr 4, 2016 16:55:44 GMT -5 @this said:

I'm still struggling with this. My best bet has been making friends with other daycare moms.

All of the internet/FB/meet up groups are 95% aimed at SAHMs in my area. It's crazy how little there is for working moms. Fingers crossed for better luck in your area!

When I pick DD up at daycare she's always the last one there, I don't know wtf the other parents do but I am there at or before 5 and she's always last. I haven't met one other parent yet! I might have to pick her up early to try and stalk some other moms.

 I think part of the problem is that your kid is too young to tell you who she plays with. I used to leave notes for parents to set up playdates because I didn't see them often. Are there no class parties? That is usually when I see the most number of folks.

[Muddled]

Did you see Miso's post on ML?

[rbp]

I met one of my best mom friends at prenatal yoga (before we were moms haha). We live a mile from each other (this is one of the things that makes me sad about moving!) and our kids are 5 weeks apart. We meet up at the park or something at least twice a month.

I've done a couple cycles of music classes with M, and some of the parents there seem cool, but I have trouble asking them out haha.

Oh, and a girl from church approached me in J. Crew right after church on Sunday and said "don't you go to Redeemer?" Our kids are 5 months apart and she seems really nice (and well dressed haha). So maybe that will pan out?

IDK, I'm kind of bad at making friends in general!

[rbp]

Apr 5, 2016 7:54:08 GMT -5 madringal said:

When we first moved to our new neighborhood I put DD on her bike and we went for walks all around the neighborhood basically every day it was nice enough. And if I saw a mom with kids I would stop and introduce myself. DH thought I was crazy, but I was determined to meet other moms. I can honestly say this was the best thing I have done for our family in years. Some of my very best friends are the moms in my neighborhood now. The best part is that since they all live right here, all of our kids go to school together now. This has been great in terms of sharing school info, needing help getting someone off the bus, sharing pics of field trips someone can't go on, volunteering together, sharing info about teachers/homework/other moms

I did a lot of leg work to get here. It was really out of my comfort zone to start those conversations. And I hosted a lot more play dates then I was invited to in the beginning. But it paid off.

This is a great idea. I'm going to make myself do this when we move this summer. (Minus the bike )

[brady2012]

We met people through daycare, starting with those "parties" they have for Mother's day, x-mas, Halloween etc.  As the kids started hitting 1 we got invites to a few of the daycare birthday parties.  Then we started DD at the local Little Gym around 14 months and met a bunch of other parents.

Once the kids hit 2 or so, they make friends in their daycare classes and you end up naturally socializing with the parents through playdates and birthday parties.

I also found an early am bootcamp that happened to be all moms around my age.  I think joining adult activities will probably help you meet some other moms too.

[preppy]

Apr 5, 2016 8:33:29 GMT -5 Muddled said:

Did you see Miso's post on ML?

No I will go check it out:)

[Muddled]

Apr 5, 2016 8:58:56 GMT -5 preppy said:

Apr 5, 2016 8:33:29 GMT -5 Muddled said:

Did you see Miso's post on ML?

No I will go check it out:)

I don't know if you will like it.  However, I do know that pnkybrwstr has a moms' group (in RI) that she met when DS1 was a baby and she remains in contact with to this day, so it is possible!

[thebreakfastclub]

I have been going to the same daycare for 3 years.

I think it's hard to meet people there, but I haven't tried all that hard.

The kids are tired and annoying at pickup and everyone just wants to get their kids and stuff and go home. I have no idea how you would strike up a conversation at that time.

[midwest07]

Apr 4, 2016 17:45:40 GMT -5 preppy said:

Apr 4, 2016 16:55:44 GMT -5 @this said:

I'm still struggling with this. My best bet has been making friends with other daycare moms.

All of the internet/FB/meet up groups are 95% aimed at SAHMs in my area. It's crazy how little there is for working moms. Fingers crossed for better luck in your area!

When I pick DD up at daycare she's always the last one there, I don't know wtf the other parents do but I am there at or before 5 and she's always last. I haven't met one other parent yet! I might have to pick her up early to try and stalk some other moms.

I pick up my DD at 5:30 and she is always last. The times I have gotten there closer to 5, she is maybe one of two left. I agree, what do these other people do that they can pick up their LOs so early. But I will say the one potential mom friend I have is the other mom whose baby is still there sometimes when mine is. And a couple of other potential mom friends I met in a BF support group.

I say potential because we have traded emails/texts but haven't really gotten together. I am hoping to organize a play date now that the weather is nicer. It's kind of an interesting dance figuring out how to make friends and then deciding to exchange contact info and then actually following through. Let's just say I am glad I don't have to date anymore, it's hard!

[Deleted]

Meetup or next door app (let's you meet your neighbors). . I'm in a couple local fb mom groups. I sent out a couple emails to moms at school asking for play dates.

[preppy]

Apr 4, 2016 18:12:55 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

I met other moms through groups and daycare. That's pretty much it.

IME, most of the moms on the island SAH... a lot of Navy families and SAH wives of guys that work in Defense because the industry is just so large there. I knew of one babywearing group and in googling to find the name came across this site with other non-babywearing groups as well:
asweetervue.com/local-moms-groups/

This link was super helpful. I just found a few meetup groups and a fitness group and I am going to try out a few things to see if any of them click. Thank you so much!

[AmyRI]

Apr 5, 2016 10:33:13 GMT -5 preppy said:

Apr 4, 2016 18:12:55 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

I met other moms through groups and daycare. That's pretty much it.

IME, most of the moms on the island SAH... a lot of Navy families and SAH wives of guys that work in Defense because the industry is just so large there. I knew of one babywearing group and in googling to find the name came across this site with other non-babywearing groups as well:
asweetervue.com/local-moms-groups/

This link was super helpful. I just found a few meetup groups and a fitness group and I am going to try out a few things to see if any of them click. Thank you so much!

I hope one of them works out for you!