Have you ever felt alone as a new mom?

After moving 3,000 miles a month before having my first child, I knew I needed to build a community of mom-friends. Thankfully, I discovered a safe community space where new moms could share their challenges, without judgment, and also have much-needed adult conversation! We often see the picture-perfect parts of motherhood online, not the sleepless nights and loneliness that can come with entering a new stage of life. By joining this moms group I learned I was NOT alone, rather I gained a safe space to talk about the struggles of being a new mom along with making many new friends. My longest active group text is with the dozen moms I met in my three-year-old's baby group. 

What did I learn after joining my first new mom group? 

Socialization isn’t just about finding your toddler friends, but building a positive mom-community! 

When I moved (again) last summer, as a mom of a one-year-old and two-year-old, I knew it would be imperative to build a supportive community of local mom-friends. 

Enter THRIVE:

●      Are you looking for a way to socialize with your little ones? 

●      Would you like to find other moms/caregivers to connect with? 

●      Are you the caregiver of an under five-year-old?

If you answered “yes,” THRIVE would be a wonderful fit. What I love about THRIVE is that they don’t only provide an environment to socialize for your under 5’s, but focus on the importance of connecting with other moms. I attend both Open Play and a regular playgroup, with both I know that not only does my little one have an opportunity to play, but more importantly I can build friendships and connections. (Other primary caregivers are welcome, for example, a grandmother that watches her young grandchild.)

THRIVE also facilitates other early-childhood and parenting programming. A sampling of the programs THRIVE offers are: New Moms Groups, Autism Support groups, Dad’s Groups, Working Parents Groups, Sleep/Potty Training Workshops, and even more rotating programming. 

Quick Overview of THRIVE Parenting Resources: 

●      Located at The Neurodevelopmental Institute of New Hampshire (NINH), 171 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, New Hampshire. 

●      Open to parents in surrounding areas, many travel 30+ minutes to visit. 

●      Variety of programming available, scheduling best accessed from THRIVE’s Facebook page. 

●      Most programming is affordable, ranging from $7 for one child to $12 for two. (Will be slightly more or less depending on the specific program.) 

Elizabeth B