It’s only human to want to connect with others like you. There’s something deeply comforting about swapping similar stories, empathizing with each other’s woes, and sharing helpful solutions when we can. Because being a working mom is such a life-altering and constantly challenging experience, I highly recommend getting together with other working moms.
Having a working moms network to lean on really helps.
That’s why Cara, Sara, Tela, and I started this blog. We can virtually connect with each other and working moms against guilt all over the world.
But I also wanted to do some real-life, in-person networking, so I started a working moms lunch group at my office. I started out with an open invitation to all moms at my company. About 10 of us met for the first time last week, and plan to continue meeting monthly for lunch and discussion.
At our initial meeting, we introduced ourselves and our individual work/family situations. It amazed me how each mom carefully and uniquely coordinates her life, from her job to her children’s daycare. Working moms have to employ a lot of creativity and savviness to make their lives work! I’m looking forward to getting to know and help each other in the months to come.
If you want to network with other working moms, you don’t have to do it at the office.
You might find them at your church, playgroup, school, etc. A lot of moms are hooking up via Meetup.com (a site that “helps people find others who share their interest or cause, and form lasting, influential, local community groups that regularly meet face-to-face”).
You can search by your zip code or interest (such as “moms” or “working women“). Don’t see a group in your area? Why not start one? Get some inspiration from this Dec. 3 article in the Poughkeepsie Journal about local working mothers finding sympathy and support in each other.
Do you have an official or unofficial group of working moms that you network with? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Please post ’em here.