Pictured Above: Members of the Athens Mothers’ Center in Georgia during a recent open house. Each trimester their group provides bi-weekly childcare while hosting member-led discussions and activities which adjust according to their member’s needs and interests. Mothers’ Center groups across the nation are encouraged to shape programs to support individual needs and which value every mother’s experiences.
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All good things eventually come to an end… or do they?
When I first joined my Mothers’ Center Group all I really needed was some time to feel as though I could do something other than endlessly clean spit-up off my shirt. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was initially very attracted to the fact that by joining this local “moms’ group” once a week I could have two kid-less hours dedicated to interacting with other adults and NOT with little people.
The type of support I needed THEN was:
TIME (a.k.a “time out” from the daily grind of parenting)
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Eventually, through the group’s once-a-week meetings and occasional outings, many of the mothers also became ingrained into my social circle - providing me with friendships for both myself and my children.
The type of support I needed THEN was:
FRIENDSHIP
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Along the way I managed to build a network of mothers around me. Two more babies arrived making our family of five complete. As a parent, I began to feel more comfortable. With this expanded comfort level came the emotional strength to give back to a group who had supported me during necessary “time-outs” and in the establishment of lasting friendships. I gave back by volunteering to help lead my Mothers’ Center Group.
The type of support I needed THEN was:
PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
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More time passed, my volunteer work began to (unbeknownst to me then) build my resume – providing me with leadership skills, communication skills and presentation skills. I started to feel “qualified” in something other than my roll as a caregiver and it felt good to remember and acknowledge that I had additional skills to be proud of. Through my experiences as a leader within my group, I found opportunities which allowed me to put my new-found expertise to use professionally and eventually earn additional income for our family.
The type of support I needed THEN was:
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
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Each time I’ve required support, I’ve always been able to find it through Mothers’ Center.
Lately however, a new struggle has been brewing. Eight years into membership with my local Mothers’ Center Group, a day in my life looks drastically different then it did ten years ago as a new parent. I’ve begun to feel challenged in my professional growth and how it relates to my roll as a parent.
These days I still need support in the form of friendships and parental time-off, yet the type of time I have available for “parenting time-outs” and nurturing friendships has changed. Additionally, I have a strong need to know that there are others out there who, like me, sometimes struggled to juggle the duel lives of parenting and a career.
Once again I decided to turn to my Mothers’ Center Group which has supported me through nearly a decade of parenting, giving me much more than I ever expected – from parenting time-outs, to friendships, to personal and professional growth.
Admittedly, I momentarily wondered if I had possibly outgrown my membership.
Yet what I quickly came to realize was that you don’t “outgrow” motherhood or the need for support. That was the advantage to the network I had established within my local center.
In a matter of weeks I was able to find other mothers with similar needs and together we formed a new group within the confines of our Mothers’ Center community. We established the “Executive Mommas” – a group where working parents can meet, network and learn from each other, while also getting support through the joys and frustrations of working and mothering.
The type of support I needed NOW was threefold:
PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL & PARENTAL
And I got it. It seems you never outgrow the need for support as a parent, it is just that the things you need support for change.
Maybe all good things do eventually come to an end, but right now I feel fortunate that I’ve found a group that can help and encourage me as a parent every step of the way. As Mothers’ Center group members, we are bound together by the common thread of parenting and support within a non-judgmental environment…
And for me, that strong bond is a foundation for lasting support.
Leave a comment: How has your need for support as a parent changed? Have your parenting support networks grown with you?
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Mothers’ Center offers but don’t have a Mothers’ Center nearby?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Kate - you have captured beautifully one of the original principles of the Mothers’ Center which is to serve the mother throughout her lifetime. Wonderful post.
Thanks Karen. It is so nice to have such a great and ongoing support network through my Mothers’ Center!
Great thoughts Kate!
Thanks Nicole! It was a very timely piece for me to write. The whole “Executive Mommas” group at our Toledo MC has been a lifesaver for me (and we’ve only had just ONE meeting so far!)
So on target. Wonderful post. As Karen H has commented, the founding princlple of serving mothers throughout her lifestyle is here creatively addressed.This group is really needed for women/mothers today because of the normal reality of much
stress, anxiety and depression that go along with our attempts to balance work and family life. Currently it is up to the mothers (and NAMC) to make supports happen that will make our motherwork easier. This group is a wonderful example of creating a needed social support. I hope the idea grows. Our society is quite lacking in providing needed maternal and family supports. Over time we will grow our sisterhood of mothers,forming an effective social movement that changes thst reality.Thanks for the post,Kate.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and the way I’ve expressed myself here. I think that the amazing thing about a Mothers’ Center is that it is really set up with a foundation to provide lasting support. And it is this ongoing, unwavering support that continues to help us grow as women and mothers.