Being a stay at home/work at home mom is a lonely job. I’ve always thought this, and recently read an article which confirmed my suspicions to be true. Most stay at home mom’s claimed to be lonely, and a surprising number also said they didn’t have anyone they would consider to be a “best friend”. If you’re lucky you’re in a great community where you’ve been many years and are surrounded with friends and family to help you beat the mommy lonely blues. As a military spouse I don’t have those advantages. In fact with each new state we move to the amount of people I know in the state we live in drops back down to two, my hubby and daughter. When you’re working it’s easy to meet new people, when you move into a new state as a stay at home/work at home mom, not so much!!!

Now, don’t get me wrong. I adore staying at home with my kiddo (soon to be kiddos) and wouldn’t give it up for the world!!! But sometimes you just need to converse with someone who doesn’t start shrieking when they hear the theme song to Elmo’s World. I’m so thankful to be living in the current day and age because it makes it so easy to keep in touch with all my friends and family, even if they are 2,000 miles away! A great way to beat the lonely blues is a long email from my best friend or an hour long chat with my Mom (who doesn’t mind the before-mentioned shrieking two year old in the background). I’ve also found that the internet provides great connection mom lonely busting opportunities! From being a part of The Christian Mom’s Business Resource I have met a ton of wonderful, sweet Christian ladies. They’re all moms, Christians, and work from home–so they completely “get” me!!! I’ve gotten to be close friends with a few of them and talk to them as much online as I do my closest friends from back home, even though I’ve never met them face to face. Ah the wonders of Facebook!

Sometimes though, you just need to get away from the computer, out of the house, and talk to a “real live person” face to face!!! I know, it’s tough when you have babies and toddlers, but trust me, it’s oh-so worth it! The first recommendation I’d make is getting into a good solid church. If you can find the right church for your family it’s amazing how much the support and love there can help! Sometimes church hunting isn’t all that easy, though, and even if you find a fantastic church it might not have many, or any, other stay at home/work at home moms. That’s why I’d also recommend checking out www.mops.org it’s a wonderful Christian based group that has groups all over the entire country. Although there’s not one close to where I currently am I attended the one in Wyoming several times and it was absolutely fantastic! They feed you, watch your kiddos, and you get to chat with other moms! The group that’s saved my sanity here I found on www.meetup.com It’s full of other stay at home moms and they put together great playgroups, everything from free play at a fantastic park I never even knew about to story times, and tomorrow we’re going to let the kids decorate pots and then plant their very own flowers!

Don’t let the mom loneliness get you down! With all the options and resources I just listed you have no reason to! And remember, the very best way to ever make friends is to be one! So reach out to another mom you know, you never know how they’re feeling and how much they might be wanting to hang out with someone just like you!

Filed under: monday's mommy minute