As a stay-at-home mom, I have always
taken my kids to playgroups, because I believe the social time is so necessary for
my own well-being and for my kids’ development. I never thought something was
missing until I discovered this thing called momstown. At first, I didn’t see
how momstown was different from going to drop-ins and connecting
on facebook. Yet I could tell from the momstown website and blogs that moms were
genuinely passionate about momstown.
It took just three interviews with momstown owners Guelph,
Burlington and Winnipeg
to turn passing interest in momstown into real passion.
When Lisa of momstown Burlington
had to reschedule our interview, it was because she had three members lose
their dads in the same week and two members had surgery. She was trying to
do little care packages for them and deliver them that afternoon. I understood,
of course, and told her it demonstrated to me the sort of care that a momstown chapter
could give its members. She replied,
“Yes, our momstown
community is amazing - and it truly shows at times like these. We're all
making meals for the moms and even taking their little ones if they need a
break to grieve or when they were attending funeral services/preparing for
them.”
I thought, wow. Who does this nowadays? How many of us moms receive
(or have the opportunity to give) this level of support when it’s needed?
Then, while browsing the momstown Guelph
forum, I sent an email to Leanne asking her how she grew the message board,
because it seemed engaging, caring, and fun. She said the community
feel seems to emerge naturally from both the momstown environment and its
members, saying,
“It may feel that all
the moms have known each other for years but in reality they never knew each
other before momstown--and they are totally ready to welcome [other moms] into
their lives as well!”
She also gave an example of how the events help to foster
and encourage this community:
“I introduced two
members at an event for the first time…They immediately started to talk as if
they had known each other forever and by the time the event was done the one
was inviting the newer member to come and join some of the other under one
momstown crowd for a gathering the next week completely separate from momstown. No concerns about whether a new person showing up would be welcome. The
assumption is that she will be immediately accepted.”
I was so moved. How many times had I gone to a playgroup and
left without speaking a word to anyone? And when I have met and gotten along with another mom, how often has
that become an actual friendship? In the last five years, that has happened only
ONCE.
Another momstown owner told me (and I’m sorry, I can’t remember
which one!) of how, late one night, a mom posted in the forum that she felt
alone. Within a few minutes, nine
other members responded with “I feel that way too!” and “Let’s get together,” and
“Isn’t momstown so much bigger than just momstown?”
And that’s how I fell in love with momstown. I knew that I
wanted to be part of this, and it wasn't just that Victoria
needs a momstown, it’s that ALL MOMS NEED A
MOMSTOWN! We all deserve to give and receive real mom support, and we all deserve
to look back on our kids’ early years and say, “We had good friends and real community,
and those were some GREAT YEARS!”
So hang onto your seats, mamas...momstown Victoria is coming!
