Making Mom Friends Is Hard: Tips From My Personal Experience

Making mom friends is hard. We have all heard, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but where do we find that village? Is there a number to call? An email? How nice would it be if we gave birth and there was an actual “village” of moms at your door, ready with all the support we need? Sadly, this is not the case.

The truth is that for many of us, when we need the most support, there seem to be fewer people around. Having felt this way myself many times, for various reasons, I wanted to share with other moms some ideas that have worked for me when looking for my village. 

If you are feeling lonely or feel you can’t find ways to connect, let me assure you that you are NOT the only one. Many moms feel like this at some point. You are not alone; plenty of moms are out there waiting to find their mom squad!

Seasons Change

I have noticed in my life that as the seasons change, my friends do too. I’ve moved what feels like a billion times, and I would like to say that experience made making friends easier each time, but it didn’t. It left me understanding that with each shift in my life, there would be a shift in my friendships. And that is ok. 

I have friends I have known since I was four and friends I have made in the last few years, all of which are quality friendships. Some friendships stand the test of time, and others have fizzled out because we have grown in different directions. 

There is a reason every single person walked into my life. And when we walk out of each other’s lives; there is a reason for that too. 

Think about it. Think about the person you were in your teens vs. who you are now. What’s changed? Have you entered a serious relationship? Married? Moved? Had kids? How have you shifted? 

Are you the same person you were? Probably not. With our own change comes the change in what we need in our relationships, friendships included. 

Getting Involved In Your Community

If you’ve seen my bio, you know I moved here from Colombia. We moved when my kids were going into 1st grade and PK3. We arrived and moved to an area I had never lived in and to a brand new community. Starting over was hard. Nobody was going to push me to connect; I had to push myself. Push myself to find ways to feel connected, and that is what I did. 

I am so thankful to be parenting in a time when we can be digitally connected to pretty much anyone in seconds. Thanks to messaging apps and social media, I could stay connected to my friends back in Colombia and find ways to make new connections.

Apps like Peanut can connect you to moms in your area. They can even connect you to moms with kids the same age as yours and moms with similar interests. 

Facebook mom groups are also incredible. Finding mom groups in your area can be incredibly helpful for connecting.

A big thing I know has helped me make mom friends once the kids were in school was being a class parent. For some, it sounds like the worst idea, but for me, it was a great way to be with my kids and meet other parents. Even if you don’t join the PTA or become a class parent, attending school events is a great way to meet other moms. 

Before I had school-aged kids, I loved Gymboree classes. It rained ALL THE TIME in Bogota, so going to the park daily to scout out the parent mingling situation was not feasible. I was so thankful Gymboree was there as an outlet to connect with other moms. The classes are great for the kids and a great way to meet people with same-aged kiddos. 

Luckily, Miami has a lot of sunny days, so park playdates are great! Head to your nearest park and, like I tell my kids, “Just say hi.” MMC just wrapped up our summer playdate series, but we host plenty of other events (both indoor and out) throughout the year where kids can play while moms connect in a judgment-free zone. Everyone at our events is looking to make new friends, so the atmosphere is always easy-going and friendly. 

“Motherhood is hard, but it doesn’t have to be lonely!” –Cierra Bragan (Founder of Miami Mom Collective)

Cierra created MMC on this foundation. 

MMC moms are moms from all walks of life, in all different seasons of motherhood (even grandmotherhood). We host large and small events for the whole family and mom-only events so we can have some time off. 

Even for those of us introverts, our MMC Facebook page and IG are great places to find support. They are also great for finding local parenting resources. Feel free to stop by and leave a comment or post that says, “Hi! I am new here, and I need a friend.” I promise you will find a village here. 

Being part of MMC has led me to my village via virtual cafecito nights, and I am forever grateful that I decided to click on that social media post years ago. 

I repeat, making mom friends is not easy. Push yourself. Put yourself out there so you can find those you can relate to; those who support you; mom friends who will listen when you are overwhelmed and tired and say, “I get it.”  

You are not alone; we are here.