YUM-Oriented Groups to the Rescue

By: Heather Vale Goss

Being a mom can be a lonely job. Families are often scattered all over the country and many neighbors are too busy with their own lives to offer support, help or friendship when you need it.

It was once upon a time (and it does feel like a fairy tale), when you could get by with just your family and neighbors for support and guidance. Families lived in the same neighborhoods, and even the same buildings for generations. It was understood that it “took a village” to raise a child and almost every mother had access to that village all the time.

The “village” still exists today, but it is not always found on your block or neighborhood. But with a bit of research, every young mom can find community groups that offer support, advice and understanding both locally and around the world.

Virtual communities abound and can help with specific problems, such as childhood illnesses or behavior problems; members can also be there to aid you in the role of a mentor by sharing their own experiences and giving you a place to express your concerns or worries.

Local Mom Groups

Sometimes you need some face-to-face time with other moms where you can talk while your children play together.

• MOMS Club at MOMSClub.org stands for Mothers Offering Mothers Support and is geared to stay-at-home moms. There are over 1,500 chapters worldwide that meet for discussions, field trips, park days, yearly projects to help needy kids and other events.
• Mothers and More at MothersandMore.org is an American nonprofit organization that promotes the value of all moms: those that work outside the home and those that don’t. Local chapters offer support for mothers struggling to find balance in their lives and feature meetings, playgroups, nights out and more.
• MOPS International at MOPS.org stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. It is a nonprofit organization that helps you find Christian groups in your area, as well as access resources, books and upcoming events.
• Holistic Moms Network at HolisticMoms.org is a U.S. nonprofit that focuses on attachment parenting, holistic health and green living. You can join a local chapter or take part in the online forum discussions.
• Playgroups U.S.A. at PlaygroupsUSA.com lets you search for or create local playgroups in the U.S. Some groups are geographically based; others are tailored to specific interests, such as “Russian Toddlers 1 Year Old,” “Jewish Moms,” or “Singles in Custody Battles.”

Online Mom Communities

Depending where you live, finding local chapters of national or international groups might not be that easy. Luckily there are numerous online groups for moms that can be accessed by computer and link moms from all over the world for sharing ideas and culture and bonding as women and mothers. Online groups, blogging and social networking sites let you express yourself and connect with others no matter where they live.

• At CafeMom.com, you’ll find other moms interested in almost anything you can think of. There you can join a group, take part in discussions, submit parenting questions, share photos and journals and network with moms from all over the world.
• If you’re a mommy blogger, you can connect with more than 9,000 other moms like you by joining the Mom Bloggers Club at MomBloggersClub.com. You can also add your blog to BlogHer’s network of over 80,000 at BlogHer.com.
• Whether you have your own blog or not, you can share stories, write reviews or offer your opinion through Momfluential Media at Momfluential.net. Here you can learn about what other moms are thinking, feeling and doing.
• If you can’t go a day without checking your Twitter feed and tweeting about what’s going on in your life, you can find like-minded women at TwitterMoms.com.

It is no longer hard to find local or international moms who are looking to share, fun, bonding and support with other moms. Make a few phone calls to your local community center and you will be on your way to finding a young mothers group in your area. The Internet also brings a village of young mothers to you around the clock. A Google search, for example, will connect you to as many online mom groups as you have time to join and enjoy.