Building a Mommy Support System

Building a Mommy Support System

 

When dealing with the ups and downs of parenthood, who better to turn to than other new moms?

You gotta have friends
It's no surprise that having a group of supportive friends is crucial to a woman's happiness and health--especially when you're a new mom. Up to 80 percent of women experience some form of the baby blues, and research shows that forging friendships with other new moms can make the transition into parenthood easier to handle. "It is very important for women to join with other new moms to get a sense that they are not alone in their questions, insecurities and uncertainties," says Fran Walfish, Psy.D.,




Work Out
Need to work off that baby weight? Exercise is good for that, of course, but it can also help you meet other moms. "A lot of people do not like approaching people they don't know, but if you're at the gym, you already know you have something in common," says Angela Ardolino, founder of Parenting with Angela (parentingwithangela.com) and the Miami Children's Museum. "And you're bonding over something that is separate from the babies. Moms love their kids, but at the same time they love their 'me time'.




Take a class
Julie Zeff, a mom of three from Los Angeles, CA, and a life coach to busy moms (vividliving.net), has lived in three different cities with her kids over the years. "Each time I moved to a new city, the first thing I did was check out the local class schedule," she says. "The moms there were often up for playdates or lunch after class. Over time we planned regular playdates and even monthly moms' nights out. I've made some great friends and created some strong support systems this way over the years."
Check out local classes through the park district, the local community center, and the community college. And a perk, Zeff notes, is that these classes are usually super affordable.




Volunteer
Sure, there's not a lot of free time when you're a new mom. But even a three-hour shift can bring a multitude of benefits, from the mood boost of helping your community to the interaction with other energetic people, Dr. Bonior says. "Don't be afraid to think outside the box: from animal shelters to stream cleanings to nursing home theater troupes, there's a volunteer opportunity for everyone."



Start your own group!
Don't throw in the towel if there isn't a mommy group in your area, or if you simply don't connect with the moms you have met. Instead, take the initiative to start your own group. "I have an almost 11-year age gap between my two kids. All of my friends had tweens and teens--and I was home with a brand-new baby," recalls Jodi Truscott of Roseville, CA. "After 'trying out' a few of the local groups and not feeling a connection with the 25-year-old mommies, I started my own. The group saved my sanity! We grew to over 100 members and did things like playdates and Moms' Night Out."


Posted by: Georgie


Credit:Parents Magazine