Connect with Other Moms Virtually on #Momidarity “Not Your Typical Mom Group”

Hello Michigan mamas!  My name is Jenny and I’m sending a virtual fist bump to all you hard working mamas out there to tell you that you are amazing. Seriously, you don’t get enough credit for all that you do!  Big thanks to Lindsey for giving me an opportunity to share my story with you all!

In the summer of 2013 I gave birth to my son Charlie, and as most moms can relate, in an instant everything changed.  During my pregnancy I read the new baby books, the blogs, attended the parenting classes, but nothing could have prepared me for how much my life and how much I myself would change once a baby came into the picture.  Now Charlie was a happy, healthy and beautiful (in my opinion of course) baby, and for that I was so grateful, but man were those first few months hard as I tried to navigate the journey of new motherhood.

I was fortunate to have a 12 week maternity leave from my job, and in an effort to get out of the house, I signed up for a new moms group.  Little did I know that this group of strangers would provide me with the support, the encouragement, and the confidence I needed to become a great mom.  If you’ve never attended a moms group, let me tell you – it’s a pretty amazing experience.  You enter a room full of strangers, nervous that your baby will be the one crying or pooping, worried you are going to ask stupid or obvious questions, and within minutes you feel at ease because everyone just gets what you’re feeling – because they are feeling it too.  You’re with your tribe, the motherhood tribe, and there is nothing more empowering.

Fast forward 4 years, I now have two kids and I’m back to work full time.  And while I am far more comfortable in my role as a mom, and have made some incredible mom friends along the way, the day to day can still be incredibly hard, exhausting, lonely and isolating.  And that is why I founded Momidarity, a new type of live support group that makes it possible for moms to get advice, have opportunities to vent, share stories, commiserate with other moms – without having to leave the house!  Because let’s get real, after a full day of work the last thing I want to do is take off my sweatpants and leave the couch.

Our Momidarity support groups are similar to traditional mom groups in that nothing is off limits.  We talk about everything because we all have been there.  We discuss the baby blues, issues with body image, lack of sleep, blowouts, tantrums, eating strikes, relationship trouble, and everything else that comes with being a mom. But what makes our groups different, aside from meeting online, is that there are no kids present.  We get to engage with other moms in real time, without judgement, and most importantly without interruption, from those adorable, yet attention hogging kids! :)Each of our groups runs for 4 weeks, meeting once a week during the evening after kids have (hopefully!) gone to bed, and moms are known to eat ice cream and drink wine during the session.  Our groups are made up of moms from all over the country, offering diverse perspectives on parenting, tips, tricks, and shoulders to cry on.

So if you’re a mom looking for some self care, we would love for you to be a part of our community.  It’s time to put ourselves first!   An hour a week is all you need to join in on the movement.  As a thank you to Lindsey and her team, we are offering Michigan Mom Living readers 20% off an upcoming group!  Just use coupon code MICHIGAN when you sign up.

Because motherhood is tough, but together we are tougher!

xoxo
Jenny

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What other moms are saying about Momidarity groups: “Talking to other moms for an hour about our concerns, lives and challenges really rejuvenated me as a mom.  It is nice to talk to like-minded people about the trials of parenthood, good and bad. I completed an in-person Mommy and Me group when my son was born and that really helped me form friendships and have a support system.  Now that I am a working parent of a 7 month old and toddler, this forum gave me a safe space to talk about being a parent without being judged, and it worked with my schedule.”   — Esther, mom to Leo (3) and Maya (7 months)

ABOUT JENNY

Jenny Hopf is a full time working mom who loves her two kids.  She also loves red wine, exposed brick, and jeans that come in ankle length. When she’s not working as the Director of Online and Professional Education for a college in Boston, she’s hanging with her kids, husband, old english bulldog, and running Momidarity – a virtual support service for busy moms!  This is all made possible by a passion for women’s mental health and coffee.  Lot’s and lot’s of coffee.

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I would personally like to thank Jenny for taking time out of her busy schedule to be a guest blogger here on Michigan Mom Living today. I am so excited about Momidarity, it’s a brilliant idea! Feel free to spread the word to all your mommy friends out there about Momidarity. Us moms need to stick together!

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