Is At Home Motherhood Isolating?
Why is it that I am just now realizing that being a stay at home mom/work at home mom is both isolating and sometimes monotonous?
While I simply LOVE being able to work from home I don't have the interaction with adults that I did when I worked out of the home. And, while I wouldn't trade working from home I sure could use some more adult interaction during my day.
I've found that online friendships are good especially for one's sanity when you are at home day in and day out with two kids but real life human interaction cannot be replaced. And, to be honest I never felt isolated until we moved away from family and friends. So maybe it's not so much that motherhood is specifically making me feel isolated but the fact that I still havent made one single new friend here that has stuck. I've met moms but real friendships have not blossomed.
So tell me, what works for you if you are a stay at home mom?Labels: motherhood, online friendships, SAHM, stay at home mom, WAHM
>Go to the Mom blog Homepage
Why is it that I am just now realizing that being a stay at home mom/work at home mom is both isolating and sometimes monotonous?
While I simply LOVE being able to work from home I don't have the interaction with adults that I did when I worked out of the home. And, while I wouldn't trade working from home I sure could use some more adult interaction during my day.
I've found that online friendships are good especially for one's sanity when you are at home day in and day out with two kids but real life human interaction cannot be replaced. And, to be honest I never felt isolated until we moved away from family and friends. So maybe it's not so much that motherhood is specifically making me feel isolated but the fact that I still havent made one single new friend here that has stuck. I've met moms but real friendships have not blossomed.
So tell me, what works for you if you are a stay at home mom?
While I simply LOVE being able to work from home I don't have the interaction with adults that I did when I worked out of the home. And, while I wouldn't trade working from home I sure could use some more adult interaction during my day.
I've found that online friendships are good especially for one's sanity when you are at home day in and day out with two kids but real life human interaction cannot be replaced. And, to be honest I never felt isolated until we moved away from family and friends. So maybe it's not so much that motherhood is specifically making me feel isolated but the fact that I still havent made one single new friend here that has stuck. I've met moms but real friendships have not blossomed.
So tell me, what works for you if you are a stay at home mom?
Labels: motherhood, online friendships, SAHM, stay at home mom, WAHM
>Go to the Mom blog Homepage
7 Comments:
I use to feel that way, but recently things have been great. I am online alot, but I do get out. Tyler is in school and sports and I know alot of parents around here. He has birthday parties and his school is in a pretty tight community so the faces get pretty familiar. I wouldn't say we are all "friends" but I definately have socialization. My playgroup kind of fell apart but I do have some friends I made so our kids get together at times to play. So it has been alot better lately and I don't feel so isolated.
I have ONE friend in FL in "real life" and all of my other friends live out of state (back in NJ) or are online friends who I chat with on the phone sometimes. It is hard, and sometimes I'm a little jealous that Tim gets to work out of the house- but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I just wish it were easier to make friends in real life. I just haven't met anyone in real life (except the one friend I have) that I click with.
It is really hard and takes time to find new friends after moving. Mom's groups have really helped me, even though you have to weed through to find people you have more in common with than you are both moms.
You should check out the online Home Schooling groups. I know a few here meet regularly at a park so the kids can play and the moms can chat.
I have finally made a couple really good friends here, that I am so sad that we are moving soon.
Thanks for the feedback ladies...
It isn't easy to find people you really click with. I agree with Chelle - you have to weed through to find a good friend.
I've had the most success at things like Story Time at the library and Kindermusik. And I've shed my fear of saying, "I'm looking for a friend." I've found there are a lot of other moms looking for one, too.
It was definitely an adjustment for me too. I'm not the most social in general, so it may not be as hard on me as on other moms.
Like many stay at home moms a lot of my socialization is online. Now that my daughter is in preschool I get some time to talk to the moms there. The class requires the parents participate three times a month, so there is some interaction there even if the focus is on the kids.
I am a work at home Mom in South Africa. I moved to this area 2 years ago and it is only in the last 8/9 months that I have developed a real social circle - my advice is persistence! I kept calling other moms from my daughter's creche for play dates for the kids and now I have some GREAT friendships blossoming! Girlfriends are ESSENTIAL for your sanity. I hope you find some soon!
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