In my recent article, A Baby Does Change Your Life, I discussed some ways that becoming a Mom will change you forever. Having a baby will change your life, but those changes are not all negative. Have you ever thought about how becoming a first time Mom might affect your social life?
Perhaps you are worried that your child free friends won’t want to hang out anymore, or maybe you think that you won’t have the time, energy, or desire to have much of a social life anymore. Well, if you are thinking about your nights on the town hitting the clubs, then you are probably right. There might not be much of that kind of social life anymore, but becoming a Mom brings a whole new twist on having a social life.
It’s like when you become a Mom, you are automatically admitted into this secret club. You see another Mom at the grocery store, and exchange glances like, “I know what you are going through”, or “I’ve been there, honey”. Maybe there is someone that you hardly know at all because she is a Mom, and busy with her kids’ lives, and then bam! you have a baby, and all of a sudden, you have a ton of things to talk about with that woman. Becoming a Mom can definitely help you become more social, but only if you make an effort.
As a stay at home Mom for almost 5 years now, I can attest to the fact that it is easy to sit at home all day long with your baby and think to yourself, “Is this all there is to me now?” or, “I have no friends” But, snap out of it! There are women everywhere to socialize with now that you have a baby, but sometimes you just have to make it happen. I was determined to get out of the house and still have a life after my children were born. I cannot stand the solitude. I am a people person, and I needed interaction with other adults. So, here are a few places where making friends just got a whole lot easier:
*The Library-Look up baby story time at your local library. It will always be jam packed with other women looking to make friends.
*The Park-Don’t just keep to yourself at the park. Start a conversation with another Mom! When you have kids in common, you’ll soon realize how easy it is to strike up a conversation.
*An Online Message Board- I met one of my current best friends on a local Mommy message board. We met at the mall with our kids in tow, and totally hit it off. Now, we are going out all the time with kids and without!
*The Gym- Join a gym, and meet other Moms that are dropping their kids off the same time you are. Introduce yourself, maybe you’ll find a workout buddy.
*Pretty Much Anywhere- Here is the thing, you have to make the effort. You can’t expect your perfect best friend to come knock on your door while you sit at home with that new baby. Get out, and put out your hand and introduce yourself. Now that you are going to be a Mom, there are women all around you ready to welcome you into the club.
As your kids get older, there will be even more opportunities for you to make friends. Thing of it: preschool, soccer, PTA, etc. etc. Having a baby can definitely enhance your social life. But, you have to make it happen!
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