Are you burned out trying to connect with moms at mommy & me classes, park playdates, and mornings gathered with kids in tow at other moms’ houses? Have you hit a wall with all that mess? There’s a reason for that! Trying to make friendships based solely on the fact that your kids are the same age is, well….weird. After spending a few years doing the moms+kids playtimes, it was time to buck the system and make my own fun! That’s why I started my Kid-Free Mom Group that was purely based on my own likes.
Every mom needs her own kick ass Kid FREE Mom Group because it is one thing that is all about YOU, YOUR JOY, & YOUR SANITY!
(If you’re interested in getting this Kid-Free party started today, check out my List of 5 Resources You Can Try Right Now to Find Mom Friends!)
No More Play Dates
Really, there were two main reasons for starting my own Kid-Free Mom Group. First, (and foremost) there comes a point in your mom life when you just can’t stomach another play date.
As desperate as I was for some serious mom-time, I reached a point where I just didn’t want to do the mommy shuffle any more. I was tired of negotiating one + kids while trying to have a 5 minute talk with another grownup.
Second, my kids were “aging-out” of the system. Most kids their age were in preschool till 2 or 3PM several days a week. So, scheduling those playdates became a lot harder.
When it came down to it, I wanted to just go hang out without worrying about ANY kids—my own or anyone else’s.
Put it Out There
So, it was go-time! First, I started my Kid-Free Moms’ Group on Meetup.com. But, I’ll confess: it was a bust. It is my experience that Meetup.com can be hit-or-miss when it comes to the success of your group. What may work in Atlanta may be a flop in Chattanooga.
So, after a couple of weeks of crickets on Meetup.com, I opened the same group as a closed (“private”) Facebook Group. Then, the magic happened!
I shit you not—within 2 weeks, it went from ZERO members to over 100 members. WAH??
My phone was dinging every 5 seconds with new member requests. It felt amazing! After over 3 years of being unsuccessful at meeting friends in my “new” city, I finally had the chance to find my TRIBE!
If you need some help getting started with this part, then check out my List of 5 Resources You Can Try Right Now to Find Mom Friends!
You’re Not Alone
One thing I discovered was that I was nervous about stating the things that I wanted and needed from others. I was just scared to put it out there. I think I felt a little ashamed or embarrassed that I didn’t want to do the whole mommy & me thing anymore.
But, I got real honest with myself, and I decided to just go for it. What amazed me the most was the response I received from moms all over the city. I wasn’t the only one after all! And, I had found my people!
I can’t tell you how that single act of honesty has changed my whole world.
Do YOU
Whether you’re into wine and food (like me), or bunko, or knitting, or whatever—you’re going to have the most FUN when you create the world you want to be in. If you’re unhappy with your world now, then don’t go creating a group that you don’t really want to be a part of. Create a group that you’d be like “HELL YES! That’s what I need in my life!”
Don’t try to please everyone because you’ll end up not pleasing anyone (especially yourself!). So, just decide what YOU want from a new mom tribe and put it out into the universe!
Build it, and they WILL COME. (Particularly if there’s wine involved…just saying).
Benefits of a Kid-Free Mom Group
OMG. Let me just tell you how much I love my “mom-time” with my ladies. The talking, the laughing, the uninterrupted eating, full conversations, and on and ON!
You’re not joining up with other moms simply because your kids are the same age, and you want to socialize them. This isn’t 45 minutes of chatting with another mom at your kid’s soccer practice.
THIS is QUALITY MOM TIME.
The biggest benefit of the kid-free group is that we ALL want the same thing: time to regroup with other moms. We want to connect, get some release, and rediscover ourselves without our kids around.
We may all be there for the same thing (friends), but that doesn’t mean we’re all alike. We don’t have the same background, similar aged kids, income, family dynamics, careers, parenting beliefs, or even the same taste in food. But, it doesn’t matter.
What matters is that we’re there to connect and to find a tribe of support.
#MomGoals
Are you lonely, but growing exhausted with the whole playdate thing? Then setting up a Moms Only Group may be your saving grace!
It takes such little time to set up, and the benefits can come so quickly! Seriously, there’s loads of places to start your group & find your people–these are my personal favs!
If you’ve just moved to a new city, or are having a hard time meeting other moms in your home town, or even if you just want out of the playdate trap– then, I would totally recommend starting your own kid free mom group!
Picture it: you, a handful of other moms that live close by, a bottle of wine, and a full meal where all you do is chat, laugh, and remember you’re more than a mom! Sounds pretty good, amirght?
#momgoals
Want to remember this? Post Why I Started A Kid Free Mom Group (& Why You Should, too!) to your favorite Pinterest Board!
