{Our challenge: join a new mothers group!}
This was one of the challenges I was many thrilled about. I’ve heard so numerous of my mother friends rave about their mom’s groups that I couldn’t wait to find one of my own. I’d been trying to get after this challenge for a couple weeks. I’d found one group through Meetup.com and had actually RSVP’d for a lunch but then some family ended up coming into town and I didn’t go. At a friend’s recommendation I learned about a new mom’s group provided through the medical facility I delivered at and chose to give it a go.
The group meets on Mondays from midday to 2pm had about 20 women, all with babies 6 months or younger. It was led by an awesome doula named Kimberly who immediately made me feel at home. You could just tell that this was the kind of place where no one would judge you if you came in wearing your jammies and your baby was screaming.
Most of the women had their babies lying out on blankets and a ton of them were doing tummy time and not crying, which immediately made me feel like Garrity and I were inadequate. She hates tummy time! but then when we all went around and introduced ourselves and our babies I realized the babies I was comparing my daughter too were a good two months older than her. Phew.
After introductions everyone had a chance to ask a question. While many of the questions were directed at Kimberly, each question did go out to the group to see if any of the other mamas were facing a similar situation or had gone through something and had advice. It was great. It was so good to hear these other mamas handling the same things I was.
I was even able to offer some guidance to a mother whose milk has too much lipase in it — I scald all my milk after pumping.
Garrity did ok. even though I’d nursed her before we left she got fussy about 30 minutes in so I whipped out my boob and nursed her. It was so good to be able to nurse in public and not have to worry about covering myself up! after that she started to get exhausted but she is in this fun no-nap stage so ended up crying rather loudly for a good 10 minutes.
I tried to comfort her in the circle for a bit but that didn’t work and I ended up having to get up and walk around. eventually she fell asleep and I put her in her car seat and we were able to rejoin the group. even though I was completely stressed out for those 10 minutes and was embarrassed that she was causing a scene I don’t think anybody really noticed. everyone else was so concerned with their babies that mine didn’t even faze them.
We made it through all the ladies in just about 2 hours. typically I would have stayed after and tried to strike up some conversations, but I had errands to run so I ducked out but I will certainly be going back. I’m looking forward to trying to connect a little much more with the mamas next time and hopefully can make some new friends out of the group. maybe I can even hit on one and cross off my Rookie mother challenge #13 ?
[Photos by Whitney Mattocks; All rights reserved]
Find more baby activities with the 52 weekly rookie mother challenges.
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