Tips on Making Friends and Keeping Your Sanity as a Stay-At-Home Mom

You're busy with your young child or children all day as a teacher, caretaker, cook, and playmate. Being a stay-at-home mom is a 24-hour a day job and, although you're never alone (even when you're in the bathroom), you may get lonely - for adult company in particular. Motherhood can be overwhelming and it is nice to be able to talk to other mothers of young children. Here are some ideas on how the stay-at-home mom can expand her social circle.

1) Join A Parenting Group - If you gave birth in a hospital, chances are they sponsor parenting groups. Give your hospital a call to find out more or, if you kept the paperwork from the hospital when you gave birth, they may have given you information about it already. If you didn't have your child or children in a hospital, but have a midwife or ob-gyn, contact them and see if they can put you in touch with another of their patients who had children around the time you did. Perhaps you adopted. If so, give your adoption agency a call and see if there is anything in place through them. If not, maybe they could give your number to someone who is in a situation similar to yours.

2) Check Out Your Local Library - These are great places to meet other moms. Most local libraries have free classes for young children. These will usually be run by a librarian and include a storytime, music, and free play. It's a really easy and inexpensive way for moms and their children to socialize. Even if you go when there isn't a class scheduled, most libraries have a children's section with some toys and books - still a good way to meet other parents. And, you may even have time to check out a book or movie for yourself.