Photos Courtesy of Madysen Wiggins
Making connections can be hard, especially for new moms. As an expecting mother, Madysen Wiggins wanted to find a group of women in a similar stage of life. Wiggins joined the B/CS Moms With Kiddos Facebook group, but she found the pool of thousands of women with kids of all ages intimidating.
“I have an 8 month old, but when I was pregnant I didn’t know any friends with babies,” says Wiggins. “I wanted to have a community of people that were going through the same things.”
Wiggins posted in the group looking for other pregnant women or women with babies to create their own group, B/CS Moms With Babies. With her friend Cassidy Somervill, she formed a GroupMe.
“It’s open to anyone, but if you’re a mom with a new baby, we want to make sure you’re feeling extra supported because it’s a huge transition,” says Wiggins.
The goal isn’t to alienate others, but it’s an extra connection for the friends of hers who understand the “nitty gritty” of motherhood. Even if you don’t have an infant anymore, B/CS Moms With Babies will welcome you with open arms, she adds.
Before quarantine, the moms spent time together in parks while their children played. Now, the group has moved mostly online, via Google Hangouts and Zoom meetups. Their Mom’s Night-In Zoom meetings are planned for after the babies go to bed, hopefully enticing conversation past motherhood.
“I want to talk about us as not just moms and more about what we like to do,” says Wiggins. “Sometimes we get too caught up in talking about our babies’ milestones.”
One goal of the group is to encourage mothers to explore themselves as individuals. Another, Wiggins says, is to get husbands involved. As for single or working mothers, Wiggins wants future meeting times that can accommodate their schedules. Meetups in person will follow social distancing safety precautions while they’re still in order, but Wiggins admits she doesn’t know when the next will be.
“I don’t know if anyone is comfortable meeting in big groups,” says Wiggins. However, she assures for now the group will be planning Zoom meetings or smaller meetups at a park where everyone can stay safe.
During quarantine, it’s easy to become isolated. Wiggins encourages new moms to reach out to make new connections to take care of their own mental health.
“I did it myself by contacting people in the Facebook group. I know how important it is to make that connection,” says Wiggins. “Sometimes I think people feel uncomfortable reaching out, but I encourage them to reach out even if it’s uncomfortable.”
To join or learn more, email Madysen Wiggins at mrydeen92@gmail.com.
