Our director once gave a talk to a large
gathering of new moms about the trials and tribulations facing stay
at home parents in the (then) 90's. She may have exaggerated when
she
spoke of the tumble weeds billowing down the deserted streets of our yuppy and wannabe-yuppy neighborhoods. But the feeling of desolation
is all too real.
Just as children need other
children, parents need other parents. It's not just the shared wisdom
that we are in need of. It's also the social stimulation and support
of people who won't look at you like a moron for admitting you're
ready to pull your hair out over allegedly
trivial matters -- such as
"getting him to eat green beans" or selecting a brand of
diapers that doesn't create embarrassing "blow outs".
It's not that these things are
all we care about. But darn it, as with every other profession, we
need "shop talk" and the company of our professional peers.
Often, we just need the chance to blow off steam in the company of
those who know -- those who will laugh
with us, not just AT us!
Below you will find a list of
suggestions for connecting with your peers, both in your local
community and over the Internet. If you have resources or suggestions
to add to the list, please send us some
email
Tips For
Finding Other Parents
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Join a playgroup:
Playgroups are a great way to meet other
parents, and just as importantly, it's a great way for your kids to
garner play & socialization experience. Plus playgroups are a
very economical alternative to enrolling your young child in a lot of
classes. (Often a consideration if one parent "stays home".)
Check our
playgroup
section or check your local parenting news magazine for
listings. Check the bulletin board or flyer stand at your local
libraries and community centers for notices and advertisements.
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Join a
local parent support group
Most hospitals these days can direct you to "new parent" support groups. For some in the San Francisco
and Monterey Bay area, check our section
below.
Local community colleges sometimes offer
classes for parents that may lead you to a good support group. Check
to see if the the instructor is a licensed counselor or therapist.
Such persons usually either sponsor a support group themselves or can
refer you to one.
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Start
your own playgroup
Smart Mom's Baby-sitting Co-op Startup Kit
The purpose of a Baby-sitting Co-op is to help
mothers-of-preschoolers have time off so moms can better care for
themselves, their families, and each other. This website is
designed to help you set up your own co-op in your area.
All you need to start is 3 friends!
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Start
your own Meet Up group
MeetUp.com allows you to create
your own online presence for your play group, family nature walk
group, or other parent/family related get together. There
is a cost for hosting your own group, but you can always look
for other groups to join.
To see an example, check out the
Santa Clara county
Earth's Kids meet up group.
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Attend
a class
Parents in
parent participation
classes often have a great time chatting each other up. In the course of
chatting about the shared challenges of parenting, housing crunches,
and other aspects of family life and/or career, parents find their
common bonds and interests and often end up staying on after class to
chat some more. Play dates are often
arranged when the children hit it off as well.
Grab a schedule for your local community center
and see what classes they offer for you and your child.
Another good place to look for classes is
in your local family activities guide. In our area its called
"Bay Area Parent". Check
parenthoodweb.com
to see if they publish an edition in your local area.
The library is another good place to
check for publications and/or bulletin board listings.
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Join a parent co-op or parent participation preschool.
These are very popular in our area, especially
with parents who have already had the playgroup experience (or even a
Toddler & Me type class at the community center). With a co-op preschool, parents are
assigned one day a week (or less, depending on the school) to come
and assist in the classroom. Some advantages of a co-op style preschool are:
Observe and learn about your child's
development and developmental needs.
Learn first hand how other children are similar
or different than your own child -- in temperament and development.
Make the transition to greater independence a
gentle, gradual experience. (Co-ops are generally more patient than
"drop offs" about attachment and separation issues.)
Meet and get to know other parents.
Get helpful tips and information from the
teacher and other parents.
Provide valuable public service through
supporting the education and development of young children.
Spark an interest in becoming a preschool
teacher!
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Try an
online message board
forum or
chat board...
Check our listings!
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Local
Support Groups & Resources:
click a category for more details
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Need to update your group's entry? Would you like us to add a listing for your own playgroup? Just
drop us some email, we'd be happy to help!
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On-Line
Communities:
Forums & Chat...
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Parent
Soup -- Chat Sessions
Check their chat schedule and "how to" info. and then
join in -- talk to other parents about the issues that interest
you.
Includes support for
at home
moms.
Cafe Mom
This is a little like MY Space for moms.
You can have your own blog or web page to post about your parenting
experience (or hobby). You can read what other moms have to
say. And you can join discussion groups about specific
topics such as potty training, autism, or being a military wife.
Great way to connect with moms with similar challenges and
interests. |
Mamasource
Mamasource is a wonderful resource
that delivers parent education, emotional support from other
moms, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded moms in
your area. A Mamasource Daily Digest arrives in
your box each morning, featuring current tips and questions from
other moms. Ask your questions and share your own tips.
Forum available to registered
members only. Visit
www.mamasource.com
to ask about joining.
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Mom's Life
A very nice atmosphere coupled with a broad array of specialized
message boards covering every imaginable topic. A great place to
vent, find tips, and connect with other moms with similar
experience. Some specialized message areas you can participate in
include:
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Military moms
Moms with special needs kids
Single moms
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Step moms
Moms in their 30s
etc.
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Parent's Place
This site hosts both "casual" (i.e. any time, any topic) chat and
scheduled chat sessions on such topics as:
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One year olds
Military Families
Raising bi-racial children |
Pregnancy loss
Gay & Lesbian families
Large families |
You will also want to surf this site for an array of other resources
and information, including a highly informative, personalized
pregnancy calendar -- it's free, it's online, and you can print it
out!
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Other
Online Resources:
MOPS
The Mothers of Preschoolers International
website. MOPS aims to nurture and support moms from all walks of life
-- working moms, teen moms, stay-at-home, etc. Sensible down to earth
advice in their website and publications. Local support group
chapters in the U.S. and abroad. MOPS is a non-denominational
Christian organization, meeting in local churches.
STAY
AT HOME PARENTS
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