By Lisa Snowden McCray
When Mandy Sroka had her first baby, she was one of the first in her Arnold neighborhood to have kids and she didn’t know many other moms.
“When I had Emma, I went back to work after 12 weeks and I felt very alone,” says the photographer and stay-at-home mom.
But then she joined the Moms of Preschoolers group at her church and found the support and friendship she needed.
Playgroup lifeline
Playgroups can be a lifeline for frazzled new parents, says Crownsville therapist Dr. Laurie Freidman Donze. These groups can provide the support and activity both adults and young children need to get through this very important stage in life.
“Playgroups are a good way that mothers can get together and meet other mothers,” says Donze. “If they are at home, they may be alone if their partner goes to work. The baby gives some company but doesn’t give any adult interaction.”
Playgroups provide mothers and children with some kind of structure and a reason to get dressed in the morning, Donze says. The groups can even help with moms who may be suffering from the baby blues or depression.
“When people get depressed they isolate and may not want to leave the house,” she says. However, she also warned that if new parents are feeling serious signs of depression, they should tell a health professional right away.
Sroka didn’t join the her MOPs group until her youngest daughter was in her last year of preschool, but she wish she had found it earlier.
“It’s only two times a month so that you don’t feel like you’re overwhelmed,” Sroka says. “It’s really laid back. I think it’s a really good thing.”
Karen Davis’ Plum Mom’s Club is another place where local moms can hang out and have fun. The group offers weekly play dates, community activities and even monthly mom-only outings. Davis has a 14-month-old and a 3-year-old, so she knows what new moms want and need.
The play dates are usually centered around kids’ activities – they recently read the children’s classic “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and did a craft to go along with it. The group just started in March, but Davis said it has taken off like a wildfire since then.
“The idea behind the mom’s club is creating a community and emotional support,” she says.
Playgroups and Mom’s groups in Maryland
If you are a new mom (or dad) looking to get out of the house, there are lots of playgroups in the area. See the list below and for more ideas, check out Chesapeake Family’s list of parenting resources
Chesapeake Children’s Museum: Activities for toddlers and preschoolers.
Find MomCo groups (formally MOPS) in the area.
MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support): Support for stay-at-home moms. Chapters in Bethesda, Bethesda-North, Delmar Area, Parkton, Phoenix/Cockeysville, Poolesville and Potomac.
