The old saying goes: “It takes a village to raise a child”
As an educator, I have seen this saying mean many different things, but as a mother, it has taken on a whole new meaning. Many new moms are lucky enough to have a village to lean on, but what if they don’t?
Let’s be truthful, motherhood is hard, challenging, tiring and a brand new experience that no matter how many books you read, podcasts you listen to, or research you do, can answer all the questions you may have.
Moms from past generations typically lived near or even with their immediate relatives, and close-knit community. But these days more and more moms move away from their immediate relatives for many reasons: school, spouse, job and having to create a new village. Although technology makes contact with friends and family easier, it does not replace that support you receive in person.
Women and moms without a village are now feeling the pressure of that social media picture perfect motherhood. That’s exactly why a village matters.
But how do you find that village?
Here’s some ways to help you find your tribe:
Look for other parents at playgrounds, storytime and around the neighborhood.
Most people become very routine and schedule based and if you take your child to a local playground regularly, you will most likely begin to see the same caregivers and kids time and time again. This is a great opportunity to strike up a conversation and make new mommy friends while your kids make new friends.
Search for groups online
Let’s face it, everything is found online these days. Between Google, Facebook, and more you can pretty much find the answer to anything online. There are even “dating” sites for parents. You can now download the app: which will show you likeminded mamas near you and makes it easy to meet.
Make use of pick up and drop off time
If you have a child in daycare or school make the most of those pick up and drop off times. Strike up a conversation with other parents. This is the perfect time to arrange a playdate for your littles while you enjoy time together and hopefully forge a friendship.
Come workout with us!
At FIT4MOM we are more than just a workout, we are a village. We have veteran moms, new moms and moms to be. We provide you with a community of moms who are looking for a workout but also building relationships for not only your littles but yourself.
When we asked our moms why they feel the FIT4MOM village works for them, our mom Michelle, mom to Ellie, gave us this response: "I think it’s important to me because we moved to this area from Pittsburgh, at the same time as becoming a new mom. It gives me a sense of belonging and also makes me feel not so alone. Lots of women want the ultimate title of motherhood yet, we sometimes forget that being a mother can be quite isolating if we let ourselves, especially if we have chosen to take time off from our careers to be with our child(ren)."
Kaitlyn Day is mom to three and owner of FIT4MOM Reading. All are welcome at FIT4MOM’s classes and activities. For more information CLICK HERE.
