Becoming a mother can feel isolating. I found that in the early days, each day felt like Groundhog’s Day. It took a while to find other moms with a child my age. Joining a Parent and Me class was super helpful, but when my daughter aged out I was left feeling the familiarity of loneliness and isolation.
Loneliness is common in motherhood, especially before children are old enough to be in school or join an art class or sports activity. Isolation increased during the pandemic with all the mandates an uncertainty, making things even harder for moms.
It’s important to fight against the loneliness. With children, it can take a little more work, but it’s an important part of our mental health. The huge question then comes up of “Well, how do I do that?” Here are some ideas.
Join a Parent and Me class.
This was a lifesaver for me in early motherhood. I was in a lactation class as well as a Parent and Me class. Both allowed me to feel connected with something to look forward to. I now teach Parent and Me classes and encourage the parents to create a group chat to meet up outside of class and form a village that can continue (hopefully for many years).
Join a class or group unrelated to parenthood.
Not only does this give you the opportunity to connect to others, it gives you an opportunity to breathe without the demands that parenthood has every day. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try pottery or an improv class. Trust that time away from your child can help fill your cup. I have been digging into research about fun because we can’t exactly measure happiness, but we can know when we’re having fun which inevitably results in happiness. Catherine Price, the author of “The Power of Fun,” states that the three elements of fun are playfulness, connection, and flow. A class unrelated to parenthood has the possibility to engage all three.
Join a parent group that is for parents of children all ages.
These can be hard to find which is why I co-created “The Creative Center for Motherhood,” a place that has groups and workshops to connect mothers in all stages of motherhood.
Text a friend.
Instead of jumping into the “junk flow” of social media, think about someone to reach out to. It may just be to say that you are thinking about them or that you’re having a hard time and need to connect.
You may have noticed a theme here – connection. Science shows that connection is the antidote for isolation and feelings of depression. Finding connection can be hard, but the investment is worth it in the long run.
If you are looking for support and live in California or Texas, please contact me for a free 15 minute chat to see if we would be a good fit in working together.
Please note that this article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice from a doctor or mental health professional.