Moms Group Manual

BigTent.com: Taking Your Moms Group Management to the Next Level

What are most moms groups' biggest concern?  Safety and security.  When you choose BigTent.com you can be confident that they make your concern one of their biggest priorities.

From BigTent's The Benefits page:

"We're safe. With Big Tent, you never have to worry about security or privacy. We'll never sell your information - or allow anyone outside your group to see it. Even better, you choose how much or how little information you give your group."

BigTent offers some pretty impressive features for both leaders and members of moms groups.  My favorites? 

For leaders it is the ability to request dues and manage the groups' budget and accounting functions from the site.  I also like that the functionality allows for creating sub-groups within the group.  So now book clubs, knitting circles, and playdates for different age groups can all be managed within the same site for the same group...this is phenomenal!

For members, I love the group news is centralized all in one place so you don't have to worry about missing out on something because of news being spread out around the site.  The group-only classifieds is a pretty sweet bonus too.

The best feature of all?  It's FREE!  Don't believe me?  Hear it straight from BigTent.com:

"To use Big Tent, you don't have to buy a thing - there's no software, no monthly subscription, and no annual fee. What's the catch, you ask? Nada. Big Tent displays family-friendly content from sponsors so that you don't have to pay a penny. "

If you're looking for a better way to manage and communicate with your moms group, consider BigTent.com.  It is one of the most feature-rich, yet easy to use tool for creating and managing online moms groups I've seen in a while. Want to give BigTent a try?  Check out their live demo and tour.

Find or Start a Moms Group at iPlaygroups.com

Looking for or starting a moms group?  While it looks like the site recently went through some changes and the forum looks recently established (meaning there aren't a whole lot of threads yet), iPlaygroups.com looks like it could be promising.  Especially when one sees the number of local moms groups listed in their directory. 

At iPlaygroups.com one can find a moms group one of three ways: Searching by moms group category, location, or by starting a new moms group.

When searching by category, options include: General, SAHM, Attachment Parenting, Single Parents, Working Moms, Military Moms, and Moms of Multiples, just to name a few.  However, the listings don't appear to be listed in alphabetical order or by location within those listings. So while it is exciting to see like-minded moms with similar interests eager for a play date, it could be potentially disappointing when it's realized they live across the country.

In my opinion, the best bet is to use iPlaygroups.com's search by location function.  There's a big map of North America allowing users to see at first glance whether or not a moms group is available on this directory nearby.  Using the map feature is easy, double-clicking will zoom in, scrolling over the markers will give a short description of the moms group.  The short description includes zip code(s) and ages of kids.  If a user thinks the moms group could be a good match, clicking on the "learn more" link will give registered users more information about actually joining that moms group.

iPlaygroups.com is a great place for finding moms groups, however, the forum and community show promise if users start to engage more with these features in the future.

Finding a Moms Group with Amy from MomAdvice.com

Amy from MomAdvice.com was kind enough to share her blog post "Finding a Moms Group" with MomsGroupManual.com.  In her post she really gets down to the nitty gritty on the moms groups she covers.  Thanks Amy for sharing!  Moms, for great advice on everything motherhood related, subscribe to MomAdvice.com.  Also, if you like what you read and want to meet other like-minded moms, sign-up for the MomAdvice forum.

Enjoy!

Finding a Mom’s Group by Amy Allen Clark

Becoming a mom was both an exciting and scary time for me. I returned back to work full-time and, despite these great changes in my life, found that my work & friendships resumed back to what they were before I had my child. I still had people to talk to and was not really seeking anyone or anything else in my life. My life was busy and my days were full with working, caring for my child, and maintaining our home.

Upon relocating to a different state, I was thrown into the world of being a stay-at-home mother. I would never complain about being a stay-at-home mom because it has been a dream come true for me, but I lost that contact with the outside world and also with the friends that I had made.

The day we moved, I began to search frantically on the internet to find a mom's support group. I knew that I needed friends desperately and I also wanted my son to have other children to interact with. I ran across a Mother's & More group, and knew that I had finally found peace & the human interaction that I was looking for. The group offered everything I was looking for and more. My very first meeting, I handed over my membership dues and eagerly anticipated each and every activity. It was my life support and I know now that having this group brought me more satisfaction then I dreamed possible.

While I am crazy about Mothers & More, I believe any mother's support system that you can find can be beneficial to any mother. As a mother, we are all looking for different things in a support system. Some people join to educate themselves on topics about parenting, others are looking for playgroups where their children can play, some are looking for volunteer opportunities, and others are just looking for other mothers to talk to. Whatever your reason may be for finding a support group, know that having a good support system can really be beneficial to you especially if you are a stay-at-home mother.

I have put together a list of support groups that are nationally (and sometimes internationally) known for providing support to mothers:

MOMS (Mothers Offering Mothers Support) Club

What It Is

This group is geared towards stay-at-home moms. The group meets during the day and they allow children at all of their meetings. The childcare is provided by volunteer members who supervise the children while the mothers meet.

History

This group was started in 1983 by a stay-at-home mother because she was looking for a group that met during the day and where her children could accompany her at her meetings.

What Do They Offer

This group offers volunteer opportunities, a newsletter, and meetings.

Membership

There are 1500 chapters with over 75,000 members. This group offers chapters in both the United States and internationally.

Cost

Member dues are low and between $15-30 per year. They keep member dues at a minimum because they know that these moms make a financial sacrifice to be home with their children.

National Organization of Mothers of Twins Club

What It Is

Are you the parent of twins? Triplets? Quads? Quints? More? If you are the parent of multiple children, then this group is for you. This group offers local groups for Mothers of Twins (MOTC), Mothers of Multiples (MOMC) or a Parents of Multiples Clubs (POMC).

History

This group was founded in 1960 to promote the special aspects of child development which relate specifically to multiple birth children.

What Do They Offer

This group offers monthly meetings discussing the care and development of multiple birth children, as well as other topics of interest. Clothing & equipment exchanges and club libraries are some of the other invaluable services.

Membership

There is a network of more than 475 local clubs representing over 23,000 individual parents of multiples, twins, triplets, & quads.

Cost

Member dues are $9 per member.

Holistic Moms Network

What It Is

This group is for mothers who have an interest in holistic health in parenting. This group is not limited to just moms though because they open their membership up to dads, grandparents, and the partners of the mothers as well. They welcome nursing infants and toddlers at all of their meetings and you are encouraged to breastfeed at all of their events.

History

This group was started in 2002 by a support group in New Jersey . These people came together because they were looking for support and friendship from others who shared the same ideals.

What Do They Offer

The group meets at least once per month. Some of the groups offer playgroups as well.

Membership

There are no statistics on the amount of groups there are at this time, however, new groups are added all of the time. Check the Chapters page for information about groups in your community.

Cost

Member dues are $35 per year and $50 for a family membership (self & spouse/partner).

Mocha (Mothers of Color At Home) Moms

What It Is

This is a support group for mothers of color who are choosing to be stay-at-home moms.

History

This group was started in 1997 by two mothers through a newsletter called, "Mocha Moms" in hopes of connecting with other mothers of color. The newsletter grew into a support network and they were incorporated in 1999.

What Do They Offer

This group offers support meetings on topics pertinent to you as a stay-at-home mom, community service projects, mom's only night outs, and kid's socials. They also offer volunteer leadership positions and the first online magazine publication for stay-at-home moms of color, "Mommy Too."

Membership

There are 1500 chapters with over 75,000 members. This group offers chapters in both the United States and internationally.

Cost

They offer two types of membership, local chapter affiliations and at-large membership. The local chapter affiliations are $20 per year and this gains you access to anything in your local chapter. The at-large membership is $10 and offers participation in national, regional, state, and online activities.

Mothers & More

What It Is

This group offers support to moms and champions the value of work that all mothers do whether it be paid or unpaid.

History

This group was founded in 1987 by a mother who had left the workforce after the birth of her first child. The group was originally called F.E.M.A.L.E. (Formerly Employed Mothers at Loose Ends) and is now called Mothers & More to reflect the additional roles mothers play during their active parenting years.

What Do They Offer

They offer meetings with topical discussions, guest speakers, mom's night out activities, playgroups, family outings, and more. Each chapter has its own unique personality and adapts to the needs of their particular members. They also offer volunteer positions both locally and nationally.

Membership

The group serves over 7,500 mothers in the United States and beyond.

Cost

Member dues are $45 per year and this gains you access to both the local & national activities and publications.

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International

What It Is

This is a group that celebrates motherhood, aids in meeting a mother's needs, and a group that helps mothers experience God's love through relationships and resources. They nurture and provide acceptance to all types of mothers- teens, urban, suburban, etc.

History

The group was started in 1973 with a group that met in Colorado. They met together for two hours, did a craft together, and ended their meeting with a short devotion.

What Do They Offer

MOPS meets in local churches and offers meetings on a variety of topics related to your role as a mother and in parenting. They offer childcare for your children while you meet. Their meeting consists of a teaching segment or presentation by one or more of the members which focuses on parenting, marriage, and other issues, a small discussion lead by members, a craft for the moms, and social time. In addition, they offer leadership retreats and a monthly newsletter.

Membership

There are more than 3200 MOPS groups meeting across the United States and in 33 countries around the world. Groups vary in size and there can be anywhere between 10-200 members in each group.

Cost

Meeting fees vary due to the fact that churches can support these fees through their ministry or through fundraising efforts of the group.

La Leche League, International

What It Is

This group provides support and encouragement to breastfeeding mothers.

History

The group has been around since 1956 when they had their very first meeting in a member's home. At the time, breastfeeding had dropped down close to twenty percent.

What Do They Offer

The group offers monthly meetings, a bimonthly magazine, and telephone assistance for mothers with breastfeeding questions. They also offer discounts on breastfeeding items and La Leche League Publications, and regional & international conferences.

Membership

La Leche League groups are all over the world and new groups are forming all of the time. Visit their website to learn how you can start your own La Leche League group.

Cost

Membership dues are $36.

National Association of Mothers Centers (NAMC)

What It Is

This is a non-profit umbrella organization which includes more than 50 mother's centers across the country.

History

These centers have been around since 1975.

What Do They Offer

Mothers' Centers are self sustaining, non-profit groups where mothers meet, engage in discussion groups, enjoy a respite from their child caretaking role (childcare is available while the Mothers' participate in groups), and help keep their center going through cooperative responsibility. Center members can use their expertise and talents while trying out new skills.

Membership

This group has more than 50 mother's centers across the country.

Conclusion:

If you are unable to find a mother's group in your area, think about starting a group in your own town. You are not alone in looking for relief from isolation and the need to feel validated for what you do. On each website they have provided information on starting your own group.

If you are still looking for other moms to talk with, look on meetup.com and see if there are any groups of women meeting and looking for the same things as you.

Whatever you do, know that you are not alone. Also know that there are other people, just like you, who are looking for friendship and encouragement in this crazy adventure we call "motherhood."

Author Bio:

Amy Allen Clark is a stay-at-home mother of two wonderful children. She is founder and creator of MomAdvice.com, an online magazine for women. Her website is geared towards mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on a budget, and homemaking.

 

BabySpot.com Launch Promises Lots of Features for Moms and Groups

When BabySpot.com makes its official launch in June 2008, new moms are in for a treat.  James Rivera, COO and Co-Founder of BabySpot.com took the time to tell me about this exciting new site for moms and there's something for everyone.

BabySpot.com gives moms and their babies their own profile where moms can upload pictures, share experiences, and learn from each other.  If you're looking to start a moms group, BabySpot.com promises features to do so.  In addition to tools for creating and managing moms groups, this site will also offer rich content.  Moms will be able to enjoy video from NewBaby.com, a site MomsGroupManual.com featured recently.  Additionally, there will be groups discussing and providing product reviews.  BabySpot.com will offer moms lots of groups catering to different interests and the ability to create their own groups as well. For example, for work at home moms growing their business, creating a group at BabySpot.com is a great way to reach out to other moms.

Mommy Blogger?  BabySpot.com will showcase mommy blogs on their site for free! 

Other features moms can expect to find at BabySpot.com?  Photo enhancements, direct video uploads, and live chats.  Be careful though, it sounds like this site could get pretty addictive!

BabySpot.com appreciates that safety is always a concern for parents and that is why they are making security a high priority. 

Can't wait for the official launch?  Take a tour and sign-up for BabySpot.com to join and preview today.

Starting a Moms Group? 7 Questions to Consider

Maybe you've searched high and low in your area and can't find a moms group close to you.  Or maybe you've joined a few and just haven't found what you're looking for.  Whatever the reason, if you're thinking about starting a moms group yourself, consider these questions first.

1. Can you/do you really want to make the commitment?  If you start a moms group and other mommies join, are you ready to keep it going?  Can you handle the fact that these are moms will be depending on you to keep up the communication, planning, and time required for making it a cohesive and close-knit group?

2. Should you place an age restriction on your group?  I've been a member of a few moms groups and I've seen it work well with and without an age restriction.  If you're a new mommy and want to meet other new mothers you might want to consider making your moms group for moms and babies under 12 months, then the whole group grows up together.  On the other hand, if you've got more than one child, this won't work as well.  Mixed ages can be fun too and you might just meet someone you otherwise wouldn't have.  Keep in mind that either way, the moms with mobile kids will be running around while the ones with infants will more than likely stay in once place.

3. Location, location, location?  Some moms groups will limit their membership to a town and even a subdivision, while others will have members from all over an entire metro area.  With gas prices as high as they are now, proximity to other moms group members can be a huge factor.

4. What will it cost you?  Sure, a playdate at the park doesn't cost a thing.  However, craft projects, event admissions, and snacks can add up.  Some moms groups create a budget and charge a modest membership fee to cover costs.  Other moms groups just divvy up the expenses among members as they go or have members take turns covering the costs.

5. What method of communication will you use?  If you're tech savvy you might set up a group site on meetup.com, yahoo.com, or MothersClick.com.  If not, you might be happy just sending an email to all members.  Either way, you want to make sure that you have a way of letting your moms group know about upcoming play dates and other important information.

6. Will You Have Ground Rules?  Establishing a simple set of rules that all members should follow is a good idea.  I'm certainly not implying that there should be a long list of policy or procedures.  However, rules concerning member privacy, contagious illnesses, and with other kids, behavior, will make it easier to resolve conflict if and when it arises.  Just make sure your members explicitly agree to said rules - you can't really enforce them if no one knows about them, right?

7. Can you keep it fun?  You might think this is a silly question but please don't burn yourself out.  As your moms group grows you are going to realize that you can't please everybody all the time, no matter how hard you try.  Being a moms group leader is often a thankless job but remember that your fellow moms are as stressed out and sometimes short on sleep just like you.  A moms group should offer support and some adult interaction for the moms and playmates for the kids.  If you get overwhelmed, delegate.  Starting and leading a moms group is a lot of hard work but the pay off is sweet.

Meet Other Natural Parenting Moms at MotheringDotCommune

Are you a mindful and natural parent looking for other like-minded mommies?  You'll find great resources, discussion, and ideas at MotheringDotCommune.

MotheringDotCommune is a forum that covers a myriad of natural parenting topics.  Learn about babywearing in a section completely devoted to the subject.  Discuss educational options , including homeschooling, in another section.  Whether you want to learn more about different perspectives with regard to vaccinating (or not), green living, or lactivism; you'll find lots of women ready to give their opinions or learn right along with you at this site.

Want to meet other natural parenting moms face to face?  Visit the Find Your Tribe section of the forum to meet moms or join natural approach moms groups near you.  There's listings of natural moms all over the world, so chances are there's a like-minded mom in close proximity just waiting to meet you.

Interested in starting your own naturally-minded or green home-based business?  Lucky for you, there's also an entire section dedicated to natural WAHMs too.

You can see most of the discussions without officially registering, but to get the most out of the forum, you'll want to register.  MotheringDotCommune is provided by Mothering Magazine, a periodical dedicated to promoting natural parenting.  You can subscribe to the magazine and discuss the current articles in the forum.

Older Moms Find Each Other at MotherhoodLater.com

For mothers that have started mommyhood for the first time, or again, a little later in life than what is considered the norm, MotherhoodLater.com is a great online and offline community to call home.  Moms who are 35+ will find links to older moms  in the news, featured moms who are 35+, as well as a blog and book recommendations.

Right now, there are MotherhoodLater chapters being established all over the country.  If there is not a chapter near you, MotherhoodLater.com makes it easy to start one and offers lots of motivation and support.  And the best thing?  Right now, membership is free as a charter member.  Check out the site for details.

Whether you are a mom later in life by choice or by fate, MotherhoodLater.com provides a community and resources with you in mind.

MotherhoodLater can also be found on MySpace, Ning,and Gather.

Manage Your Moms Group and More at MothersClick.com

Some moms enjoy online social networking to connect with other moms while others prefer face to face play dates.  I am happy to tell you that MothersClick.com offers the best of both worlds!

Not only can moms create their own groups and manage their play group at MothersClick.com, they can also tap into the knowledge and insight of other moms all over the country and beyond.  Moms can also find product reviews, classifieds, recipes and advice at MothersClick.com.

Setting up a moms group is easy at MothersClick.com.  First, register at the site.  Next, click on the "Groups" tab near the top of the site's home page.  Choose the option "Start a Group".  As you are creating your group you'll see that you will have your own MothersClick.com url.  You'll also be given the choice of making your group public or private.  Hint: If you already have an offline play group established you might make it "private" so that other moms may join by invitation only.  Or, if you are interested in recruiting new members, you can set the group to "public" with the hope that other local moms will sign on.

As a bonus, if you're a Mom and a blogger, you can join MothersClick.com's partner site, the Mom Blog Network to share your posts with other moms as well as enjoy what other moms are blogging about.

Moms will find a good fit at MothersClick.com whether it is an online group with members from all over the world or with local moms for fun play dates and outings in their area.

Meet Moms in Your Own Backyard at MOMSClub.org

With the high price of gas these days a lot of moms don't want to have to travel far to spend time with other moms.  The International MOMS Club offers moms the opportunity to participate in playgroups nearby as the chapters are organized by location.  I know that in my town alone, there are several and the boundaries are determined by elementary school zones.  In less populated areas, the chapters may be organized by town or even county.  The MOMSClub.org website has an entire directory of chapters so finding one should be relatively easy.  If you discover that there is a not a chapter in your area this organization makes it easy to start one.

According to the website, the International MOMS Club was established to provide a support group for mothers who have chosen to stay home to raise their children.  Meetings are child-friendly and a lot of activities are child-centric.  I get the idea from reading their website that providing moms with adult interaction is a fundamental goal, which is good.  My personal experience with my local chapter has been a positive one.  But just like any club or organization, the members are what make the experience. 

If you want to get to know moms that live near you, MOMSClub.org is a great start.

Meetup.com Makes Managing Moms Groups Easy for a Price

Meetup.com is one of the more robust group management tools.  Members can set up profiles with pictures, interests, and contact information.  In my area alone, there are numerous Moms Groups catering to different interests including an Infant play group, general moms groups, single moms...you get the idea.

Starting a Meetup does come with a price.  Monthly fees range from $12-$19 per month depending on what type of subscription you choose.  Each Meetup.com group features a forum (with lots of moderation options), a place to upload files, the ability to conduct polls, a list of members' profiles, and a Meetup.com calendar.  The moderator manages the calendar and forum, however, each Meetup.com "Organizer" (the person that created the Meetup) can delegate responsibilities to other members as "Assistant Organizers".  Some of the larger Meetups have several Assistant Organizers.

One of my favorite things about Meetup.com is the ability to set up notifications when new Meetups are created based on my interests.  For example, I am interested in mom Meetups, writing Meetups, and outdoors-related Meetups.  Every time a new Meetup is created I get notified via email.  I have also set up my notifications with Meetup.com to let me know when the Meetups I belong to post a new event.

Meetup.com offers a range of security options.  Organizers are able to establish different privacy settings.  The Moms Meetup I belong to has a really great system in place.  The organizer, Julie, has set up two Meetup.com groups, one with public access and one for private access.  The public access Meetup has specific events designed to facilitate the Assistant Organizers in meeting prospective members.  Once the prospective member has been met in person and therefore confirmed they are indeed a mom with good intentions, they get approved for the private group.  This not only ensures safety at the playgroups taking place at members' private homes, but also protects the sometimes personal information shared on the private group's forum.

Moms can use Meetup.com to meet others that share their interests, including those that might not necessarily be moms.  Meetups range from foreign language clubs, to scrapbooking, to movie buffs, to political organizations.  Obviously, there are more choices in some of the larger Metro areas but I think you'd be surprised at the choices available all over the country.