Meeting New People.
Independent Motherhood can be a lonely road sometimes, especially if you do not live near your family or do not get to see your friends much. I have observed how sometimes friendship dynamics change when babies, marriage and so forth come into the picture too. Putting that aside, there are many ways you can actually meet likeminded individuals who you can actually form mutual friendships with.
I summarised some of them on my Instagram (@theresilientmum), but I wanted to explore some other options in more depth. The internet is a great way to start initially because it opens up a world of opportunities and there are so many fantastic Mamas out there who are quite often looking for the same thing that you are, friendship and socialising with other Mamas.
The Independent Mother Hub
A small hub I created for Independent Mothers to socialise and learn different things. I think it is important for Independent Mothers to know that they have a place where they can meet, and that they are surrounded by people who understand them.
The concept behind The Independent Mother Hub is to ensure that we meet during the week, on the 4th Friday of the month for 45 minutes. I welcome Mothers who would like to bring their child(ren) because I know that seeking childcare as an Independent Mother can sometimes be difficult and very costly also.
As it is an informal meet-up babies and small child(ren) often add such character to the meetups and it is lovely to get to meet them! I also think that it is a great way for them to make their own friends and form their own bonds.
Within The Independent Mother Hub I seek to create a safe, welcoming and friendly environment where we can share our victories, challenges and anything in between.
Our next meeting: Friday the 28th of February 2020.
The fee for The Independent Mother Hub is £7 per session.
The location for the next meeting is in KATAKATA, Brixton.
The time is from 12pm-12:45pm.
The topic for February is Self-Love. We will be exploring the various ways we can love ourselves and we will also be doing some topic related activities.
To reserve your space, please head to:
Nursery | School
If your little one(s) attend nursery or school, often you may notice that schools do different PTA meetings, breakfast mornings, special occasion gatherings, fairs, etc. These are great ways for you to establish who your child(ren) play with and of course meet their parent(s).
I know it can feel daunting introducing yourself to another parent and it may even remind you of the first day of school, but sometimes the other parent is also in the same shoes as you! Thinl of your child(ren) and how they make friends, some are bold and just go for it, whereas others (myself included) are more laid back and reserved.
Try to be brave, smile and introduce yourself. A conversation starter could be, asking who their child is and how both of them are finding the nursery/school. From there you could mention what you like about the nursery/school and then start to get to know one another. Another fabulous idea would be organising a play date, so that your children could get more acquainted with one another.
The more you both speak to one another the more you will find the conversation just flowing. If it does not flow and you're feeling uncomfortable, take a step back and say, "it was so lovely to speak to you, have a lovely day." Then give yourself a pat on the back for trying. Try not to lose hope there though, not everyone will be the same. Some people are shy, some have their own issues and some may just not be big on talking, there are so many different reasons. Don't take it personal.
Attend Functions With Your Friends | Family
You will be surprised at who you bump into, it is a small world as they say. You could connect with someone who becomes a lifelong friend, or you could gain something other than friendship from the event. It is nice to take a leap of faith and step out of your comfort zone because it is only when you do that, that you will realise what you have been missing out on. It will also encourage you to try new things more often and go to new places.
As organised as I am, I can be quite spontaneous sometimes and I thoroughly enjoy going to different locations, restaurants, and in general places I have never been to before. It has resulted in mainly positive for me, quite often I have met new faces that have left me inspired in some way.
Religious Organisations
If you are religious another place where you can meet someone is at a religious organisation. A lot of churches have such welcoming members who are always prepared to help you with anything you may need. They host some of the most fantastic events welcoming the community in and they also have different services to accommodate your timetable. It is a guarantee that you will make a friend or two here.
Can you think of any other ways that you can meet new people?
With Love,
Roxanne-Sasha x
