Some of your friends may already have kids, and now you finally understand them and can relate on a whole new level! On the other hand, you may find the relationships with your child-less friends may change and you may get left out of outings you normally would be a part of. As a new mom, you'll also find yourself needing to talk to people who can talk about diaper rashes, sleep woes, hang out for the early bird special, or meet for coffee dates at the playground. Here are my tips for making new mom friends!
The Key: Put yourself out there!
- Put yourself out there- Making new mom friends is totally like dating, except for you are now the guy in this scenario. If you want to make new friends, you'll have to make some of the first moves.
- Make the first move- I am a rather shy person, but I've found that in order to establish a relationship with a potential new mom friend, you have to make the first move and test the waters! Here are some examples I've done:
- Stop a mom on a walk or at the park- If you see a mom walking her baby, say hi! The good news about all of this is they are probably thinking the same thing. Maybe its too bold to ask for her number the first time or maybe not, I wouldn't be afraid to. If your kids look the same age, say it would be great to set up a playdate or walk sometime.
- Mommy and Me Classes- Sign up for a mommy and me yoga class or a small group play group at a local establishment. In Atlanta, we have The Bunny Hive, which is perfect for meeting moms and babies locally!
- Reconnect- Send a message on facebook to people you knew in college or high school who now have kids! Even if you were not super close before, you now have something in common.
- Follow-up- Moms are busy, you know that! If you get turned down the first time you reach out, try again. You'll be able to get a read on the potential new friend after a few text exchanges and know if it will work out.
- Set a reoccurring plan- Again, Moms are busy, you know that! I find it helpful to set a recoccurring time you will try to meet up so that it is in both of y'all's calendars and you don't have to re-plan something new each week.
I actually have a pretty unconventional story for how we formed a group of 4 moms, dads, and babies when we all became first time parents. One of our neighbors noticed a bunch of pregnant ladies over the summer and texted us all to connect! We got together at a brunch and the rest is history. Unfortunately, COVID hit right as we were all ending maternity leave, but that did not totally stop us. Every Friday around 5 PM, we met for happy hour, socially distanced in the front yard, and caught up! Now the kids are almost 2 and are really forming the sweetest friendships with eachother. Us moms get together after bedtime for wine and so do the dads on some nights! Maybe the stars will align and you too will have a similar story to tell.
Hopefully this gives you some ideas on how to make new mom friends! Don't be afraid to make the first move because chances are the other mom is feeling the exact same way.
XOXO,
Nichole @ Little Peach Sleep