Welcome back!
I am delighted to introduce you to Guest Blogger Mara Maroney. When Mara approached me, asking to share her top tips for helping Stay-at-Home-Moms meet other Stay-at-Home Moms, I jumped at the chance. This is a crucial area in need of increased conversation and solutions.
When Mara graduated with her Master’s degree in Biotechnology, she received a couple of job offers which turned into “never mind” when she announced that she was six months pregnant. At the same time, she and her husband moved to a new town that would be better for their growing family. Thus, she became a stay at home mom-to-be, then a stay at home mom to a beautiful baby girl. She now has a great blog at figmom.wordpress.com and the cutest clippies ever at www.prettyhairclippies.etsy.com.
Stay-at-Home-Mom, Meet Stay-at-Home-Mom
Being a stay at home mom is a full time job, but I make it a point to take care of myself just as much as I care for my family. When my daughter was three months old we had a great adventure: she and I took a trip overseas to see her grandparents. While at home, I stay busy caring for her and the house, and meeting with my mom’s group. I have also found a way to nurture my feminine, playful side by making hair clips for children and adults and running my shop, Pretty Hair Clippies. 
In all my pursuits, my daughter is my motivation. She is my hair clippy muse and my beautiful model. She is a constant source of wonder and joy. Soon enough she will be the loveliest guest to all those pretend tea parties.
I have never felt as alone as I did after I gave birth. I was so exhausted I could not figure out how to open a new pack of diapers – yet I longed for someone to ring that door bell. Or call me on the phone. At least to send an email. The days passed one by one, my daughter turned four months old, and I felt like a sick person stuck in a hospital bed waiting for someone to visit.
I was never a social butterfly, but of course I had friends: everybody at work, old school colleagues, people in my birthing class. I even had friends on my online networking sites: cafemom.com and circleofmoms.com. I had kept in touch with everybody up until I gave birth. But they didn’t have newborn children. Their life went on while I was suddenly a stay at home mom.
It took my new mommy brain a long time to figure out that other stay at home moms would appreciate getting together every once in a while. Since I didn’t know anybody in my area, I had to do some research and asking around.
First I asked everybody I knew that had children if they knew any moms in my area. Then I asked around at church. I even asked my hair stylist. Stay at home or not, this is a situation where people will not have second thoughts about networking. Somebody will know somebody who will know someone whom you’ve never met before, but who would be delighted to meet with you.
Then I searched on Craigslist.com and Meetup.com for stay at home mom groups in my area. I subscribed to one group which was closest to my town. I could never join them in their activities because they were still far from where I lived. However, I noticed that many of their group activities were happening at their local library and I thought to myself - wait a second: we have a library too.
I went to our local library the next day and received their schedule of events. It’s amazing how many child directed activities they host: toddler storytime, preschooler storytime, crafting lessons and even entertaining shows for children and parents. I also found out that the local mommy groups make room reservations there for their meetings.
The first time I took my daughter to an event at the local library, I happened to run into my birthing class instructor. She was part of the local mommy group. She actually handed me a business card and invited me to their next meeting. Why didn’t I think to ask her about such a group in the first place? I could have even asked any of my health care providers, starting with my doctor, midwife, nurse, and finishing with my nursing counselor. I was delighted to have finally found an escape from home and other mommies to talk to.
I am now a member of the local stay-at-home mom group. I have found some very friendly moms who have helped me stay sane and have taught me to be a better mommy. I have benefited from our meetings, my daughter has benefited, and I sure hope some of my new friends have too. I only wish I had found them sooner.
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