A virtual mother meetup can be extremely useful to help both new and experienced moms make parenting decisions. Every day, mothers fully understand the phrase: Mommin’ Ain’t Easy! Each of us has struggled with decisions about nearly every aspect of being a parent. We read books (old school) and scour the internet for blogs and articles that can help us make decisions. We talk to our friends and family and ask for suggestions. Many times, we even receive unwanted advice!
A solid mom network is an invaluable thing. I found my tribe of moms to share experiences and get suggestions; however, my network back in the 90s and early 2000s was limited. I interacted with the parents of kids who went to school with my daughters or played sports with them. We bonded over our commonness.
Now, with the power of the internet, I was surprised to find there is a thing for Mom Meetups, finding moms who live in an area near you. Mom Bloggers have the benefit of networking with other bloggers, but as a people, we tend to gravitate toward people who have many things in common with us. This makes our social interactions more comfortable.
So, even in the virtual world, we choose to become members of groups which share our current beliefs. This makes it very difficult for an exchange of diverse ideas. Part of what is happening in the world today stems from an intolerance to other beliefs. Rather than simply judging others, we need to take the time to hear out their reasoning.
For these reasons, I have started a Facebook group for a virtual mother meetup. The new group, Dr. Momma Nation is intended to be a safe space where divergent parenting practices can be discussed; therefore, others can better understand the thought processes of other positions. Perhaps there will be less Mom Shaming in the world if we understand why their actions are happening. The group is NOT intended to change minds but to open minds and heart to other opinions. If a mother changes her opinion on a topic as a result of this virtual mother meetup, well that is a personal choice.
One of my favorite sayings is “Knowledge is Power”. Many times people charge forward but are not fully equipped with the information that they need. I am a nerd and believe you should never stop learning. Parenting practices vary all over the world and different societies have made decisions based on many factors. Mother to Mother exchange of parenting information with people who have opposing opinions could prove to be a powerful interaction
Also, because I am a physician, the Dr. Momma Nation virtual mother meetup facebook group will include female healthcare providers regardless of whether they are mothers or not. My intent here is to allow discussions about health and wellness where providers can share our science and practical experiences. Mothers who have strong opinions on healthcare topics are encouraged to share their beliefs. These discussions are meant to honestly put information on the table to discuss the sources of the information and the experiences that lead to these beliefs. There will definitely be learning on both sides!
When it comes to getting information for our children, we need to broaden our options and sources. Many times we make choices and stick with them; however, by associating mainly with others who made the same choice, we do not fully understand other positions.
Since I started blogging over a year ago, I have found many topics presented in blogs that really need to have a further discussion, but the blog comment section is not the appropriate forum. The new virtual mother meetup Facebook group is where this can happen.
Although I am a physician who raised two awesome daughters, I struggled with decisions just like every other mother. I did not realize it at the time but since blogging, I have come to realize that I was a Momma Addict and Lawnmower parent. Labels are not meant to be harmful but to accurately describe some facts. Perhaps conversations in this group will help mothers recognize some of their own behaviors and acknowledge them or change them. Self-awareness is a good thing!
As an empty nester who made decisions without any idea of the long-term results, I can share my experiences as well. One of my first hot topics included daycare vs nanny because I skipped the whole SAHM and WAHM discussion.
Deciding to balance a career and raise kids is a highly personal decision. Frank conversations about struggles may reduce judgment on both sides. I know SAHMs who judge working moms and mutter things like they are glad no one else is raising their kids. That is not okay. I do not feel that someone raised my kids, but perhaps it would be good to understand why I do not feel that way.
On the other hand, there is a lot of judgment about women with successful professional careers who either quit or significantly reduce their hours to be at home with their children. Often, money is not the concern, so sharing reasons may be helpful to other moms facing similar choices.
The topics for open discussion are endless and I am sure we all have opinions to share. Off the top of my head, I have witnessed rather heated discussions about topics such as homeschooling vs. private school vs public school. Sharing tips and decision making will benefit many others.
Still not sure if you should join the group? Ask yourself these questions:
- Have you ever read a blog and wanted to ask more questions or get additional details?
- Have you ever read a blog and disagreed with the opinion and wondered how they made their decision?
- Are you a mom who wants to network with other moms and chat about basic parenting without a need to stay on any one topic?
- Are you a female healthcare provider who loves sharing your knowledge with others?
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, then….
Join The Virtual Mother Meetup Facebook group: Dr. Momma Nation!
The rules for the group are very simple. You can join if you are a mother, or a female healthcare provider (or both). Sorry men. Although adding a male perspective to the conversation would add valuable information, I think it would also add additional stress to the group because…Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars! Seriously, men often approach situations differently than women, so we will keep that variable off the table.
Because members are mothers or educated healthcare providers, this categorizes every member as an adult. So, there will be no reason for any teenage drama. We want honest opinions and frank but respectful discussions. Anyone who cannot interact in a civilized respectful way will be removed from the group because Aint Nobody Got Time For That!
Come join in the conversation today.
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