Thanks Ladies for this opportunity to inspire, uplift, and share stories and smiles with one another!
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This week is all about moms groups, and for me, follows a weekend where I was lucky to hang out with some of my local mamas for a good portion of the day Saturday.
We don't always pose for group photos with props and color-coordinated outfits but when we do...
It's a baby shower!
These are just a handful of the women in the moms (or Mamas!) group that I found about two years ago when I was looking for an outlet to get out of the house and meet people as a new mom. I found our group on meetup.com, and at a perfect time because not long after the group moved to a private Facebook group where it is much easier to have "conversations" during the day and have a calendar of events.
Without having family nearby and with few friends with children at that time, I knew that our family, and me as a mother, would need to open myself up to a new group of friends.
I was incredibly hesitant to get involved at first. While I feel that I was fairly outgoing as a high school and college student, I have become more reserved, and I approach groups often feeling like everyone knows each other and has a history of which I will never be a part. I project on groups that they don't need to open their hearts to someone new as they already have each other.
But I was wrong. This group of ladies with different personalities and viewpoints welcomed me, and as I continue to develop relationships, what I find to be true is the more I open myself to them and put my insecurities aside, the more I feel a part. Heck, they now know that I own (and use!) a Snuggie and have a deep-seated love for Hootie and the Blowfish. No, not just Darius Rucker. Hootie Baby!
While those are silly examples, the more events I attend, conversations I join, and parts of myself that I give, the more I get in return.
A moms group can offer advice and support, encouragement, an outlet for crafting, and of course, play dates, but it can also be more and as I'm slowly finding as I open myself up, a place to be yourself, yes, as a mother, but also as the woman and friend God created you to be. A great moms group will give each other a little room to breathe on the journey.
I have found a group of moms to walk with me as I raise our children. I also think we naturally connect more with some people over others, and a moms group offers the opportunity to make those close friendships.
And now I need to clean my house for a crafty play date with these ladies tomorrow!
4 comments:
I'm so glad you shared this - shows what beautiful things can come when you say YES! And start something.
I feel the same way while we're looking for a small group at church. Most of them have been established and will already have formed their relationships. Because of quarantine, then the cast, we weren't able to put A in the nursery while we attended service. And we didn't have a sitter to leave her with while we went. So I am ready to get back to church, sign up for a group & try to be open. Like you mentioned, the more we put ourselves out there, the more we will be able to form these friendships.
I joined a group on meetup when Noah was a few months old, and it was a lifesaver for me.
aww this is so great. this has been a big struggle for me. it's hard to step out of our comfort zones and i really, REALLY struggle putting myself out there- and you so admire me to doing just that! i love hootie and the blowfish too! great mama pic!
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