Some time ago I told you that motherhood is easier when shared with people who understand and live the same as you. Having a tribe or support network that understands you, helps to make all that transition, as well as the ups and downs of maternal life, less heavy.
But there are times when due to various circumstances, we do not have those people to accompany us in this adventure of being a mother. That's why today I want to talk to you about the importance of maternity groups in social networks, which have become powerful allies for mothers.
Parenting today
The time has changed. In some things for good, while in others, not so much. Today, for example, it is easier to find information online about various issues related to parenting. From the respectful handling of tantrums, to infant feeding tips, we have all the information at our fingertips.
But on the other hand, the lifestyle we lead now, has also changed us as a society and in many places that "community" that used to be used to have been lost and the famous "tribe" has disappeared. Either because someone moves or we have a different rhythm from our friends, when motherhood comes we can find a slightly unpleasant surprise: we are alone.
Currently it is very common for both parents to work outside the home, so they have been missing these classic meetings with other neighbors or acquaintances who are also mothers. When we are the only ones in our group who are already moms, it is difficult for our friends without children to understand us and we feel that need to find other women who do.
Online groups and communities
Fortunately and with the arrival of social networks, also online groups and communities appeared, in which each one has a specific theme and objective and that help us to find other people with our same interests. And of course, maternity groups could not be missing.
This kind of groups they have come to cover a need that did not exist before, because our "tribe" was close to us. This does not mean that they no longer exist, but that they have now evolved, and like many other situations in modern life, they have also become virtual.
How they have helped some mothers
In the case of motherhood, online groups and communities have been a lifesaver for many women. Although we do not have close friends or family to support us, thanks to the creation of these groups we can avoid feeling alone by becoming mothers. I share some examples of how groups have helped in social networks.
To the first-time pregnant
When we are pregnant for the first time, joy overflows us, but we are also invaded by doubts, fears and insecurities. And is that being a mother is unknown territory, so looking for a group of other mothers who live the same as you will not only help you feel more confident and calm, but you can also create new friendships for those future afternoons with the children.
To the one who is the only one in her group of friends who already has children
At this point I speak from my experience. Although I love my friends without children and having them by my side as a mother has many advantages, the truth is that I also need to be able to share my doubts and experience with other women who understand me. When you are the only one of your friends who is already a mother, It is a relief to know that there is someone - even on the other side of a screen - who understands your extreme exhaustion or he even laughs and doesn't look disgusted when you tell him about some anecdote of your baby with his poop.
To which he moved away from his family and friends
Getting to a new city where you don't know anyone is always a difficult thing, but it becomes even more challenging when you're a mom. He not having anyone or not knowing where or how to find other moms who understand you can be very sad.
I have a friend who went to live from Mexico to the United States (and also on the other side of the continent), and something that helped her a lot, was to search online for Latin moms who lived in the same city. Now she doesn't feel lonely and She has been able to make new friends despite having moved away from her family.
The one with a child with special needs
This I think is one of the most beautiful and biggest benefits of mom groups in social networks. Those mothers who have children with special needs can find other moms online who are going through the same situation online. For them, it is a great relief and a huge support to know that they are not alone and there is someone else who perfectly understands what they need.
They are not a substitute, but a tool
While online groups and communities have come to save many mothers from loneliness or sadness, this does not mean that they replace that real "tribe" or face-to-face meetings. Are mainly a support tool that has helped us feel that despite being far away, we are together.
Direct contact and accompanied evenings with our children will always be better, so these groups can be a great ally to find those new friends that we need so much, either to accompany us in the distance or form a new tribe within our city, helping us to find each other through social networks.
Photos | iStock
In Babies and more | Why it is easier to be a mother if you have a tribe, How to find other moms when you are the only one in your group of friends with children, The beautiful message of a mother that shows us how the "tribes" are in 2017
