Mothers Support Groups
Being a mother isn't all instinct and staring lovingly into the eyes of your children; sometimes it can be an emotional trial. In generations past families lived closer together and formed support groups in the form of sisters, grandmothers and close friends. With families scattered, a mother has to look a little further to find a group that meets both her needs and resonates with her as a parent.
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MOMS Club
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MOMS, which stands for Mothers Offering Mothers Support, is an international, non-profit support group focused on mothers who have chosen to stay home with their children. Formed in 1983, MOMS currently has over 2,000 chapters in all fifty states, as well as Washington, DC, and eight countries outside the United States. Children of all ages are welcome at MOMS groups. MOMS charges a minimal registration fee for chapters, but member fees may vary, depending on your local chapter.
La Leche league
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La Leche League focuses on the support of breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women who wish to learn about breastfeeding. It works to ensure that mothers get the information, socialization and help that they may need in their breastfeeding years. There are local chapters of La Leche League in all fifty states.
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MOPS
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Mothers of Preschoolers was founded in 1973 by eight mothers in Colorado; it has gone on to become an international support group for mothers with young children. MOPS is a Christian organization, and it hopes to unite mothers as individuals. It also aims to strengthen familial relations with the local church and the church at large. Local chapters can be found on the MOPS Website.
Church Groups
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Many churches offer support groups to help mothers cope, as well as low-cost daycare services to help mothers get both support and some time to themselves. That can be a precious commodity after having children. The best way to find out about these groups is to check the bulletin board at your local church, or to ask other mothers that attend your church.
Online Groups
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In an increasingly digital age, many mothers are getting the support and friendship of other mothers from the comfort of their own home, 24/7, via the Internet. With Websites like Babycenter and Cafemom, mothers can join multiple groups for free, including groups of local mothers, groups for mothers who gave birth a certain month and year, and mothers who have aligning parental philosophies. While online groups are free and easy to interact on, it's worth nothing that the combination of the high emotional stakes of motherhood and the anonymity provided by the Internet can sometimes result in a high amount of drama in online parenting groups.
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Resources
- Photo Credit mother image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
