Stay at home moms (or dads!)

Well here you are.  You've made the decision to stay home with your precious baby.  Thoughts of spending all your days with your little one...seeing her first smile, watching her take her first step...these thoughts warm your heart and re-confirm how truly fortunate you feel to be able to stay home with your baby.  Then somewhere along the way you realize that almost all of the people you knew in your life before baby were either co-workers or men and women without children.  Suddenly you feel strangely alone.  How will you meet others with similar interests and life situations, you wonder, when your topics of conversation have switched from stock market analysis to changing baby's diapers? 

We're here to help support parent's who have made the important decision to stay at home with their children.  We encourage you to become involved in the supportive community of stay at home moms and dads. We realize that making the transition from work to home involves dealing with a lot of change as well as re-defining your personal identity.  Remember that you are doing the most important job possible by just being with your child.  We congratulate you on your decision and would like to offer some suggestions for becoming involved in the stay-at-home lifestyle.

How to get involved:

1)  Call your chamber of commerce and ask about groups available for stay-at-home parents.

2) Contact your local church (or any church if you do not attend).  Many churches offer groups for stay at home parents that meet during the day.

3) Join your local area early childhood PTA.  This can be a great way to meet moms and dads with similar interests.

4) Visit kids resale shops.  Many of these stores have free local family or child magazines that can provide you with events and information for you and your child.  Sometimes these stores have bulletin boards with playgroup listings and other interesting information for parents.   

5) Take a trip to your local park.  This is a great place to meet other stay at home moms and dads.  Even if your baby is too little to play on the equipment, he will surely enjoy watching the other kids.  You will probably enjoy the outdoors and the chance to interact with other parents.

6) Take a post-natal exercise class at the local gym or through the hospital where you gave birth.  This is a great way to meet other parents and to get back in shape at the same time. Some recreation centers have mommy and me classes that are great when baby is too young for the nursery (or when you just aren't quite ready for the separation).  

7) Join or start a playgroup. Post a flyer at the local park, grocery store or kids resale stores indicating your interest in starting or joining a playgroup.  You may be surprised how many other stay-at-home parents are looking for the same opportunity and are happy to become involved.  Find more detail about playgroups in our playgroup information section.