https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:28:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200794 Thu, 07 Nov 2013 06:13:08 +0000 mjane 1200794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: I also found my moms group on facebook--it's a range of ages, with a newborn and two babies around a year and everything in between. It's way more for the moms than the babies, so no worries about the baby's age!</p> <p>I try to make a schedule for chores at home, too... when I'll do laundry, cook for the week, stuff like that, so that I'm not at sea when we are at home. </p> <p>Can you go meet your partner for lunch? That can provide structure/social interaction for the day when all else fails. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200743 Thu, 07 Nov 2013 03:27:06 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1200743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: we love our outings too! I love just taking him for coffee or tea or a nice little snack. Even if he didn't or couldn't eat the food it was really fun </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200742 Thu, 07 Nov 2013 03:25:17 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1200742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved to a new city before my sons birth and I was in a similar boat. Meet ups dot com was helpful just look for your city, I also go for a lot of very long walks and I take my son to the tiny tots story hour at our library, they have them at Barnes and noble bookstores too. I personally have also enjoyed some of the time just myself and LO or myself. Have you ever though about picking up a hobby such as blogging, sewing, knitting or crafting of some kind? Many hobbies also have meetips pr uou can meet people who enjoy them at the stores that sell for them. I am Obsessed with Susan Branch, she is like Martha's Stewart if she were not bitchy or cold. She writes and illustrates these wonderful books full of recipes and quotes and crafts. Very simple comforting stuff. I also have this new idea that I think would be fun: skypals! It may have already been invented but its basically a pen pal that you Skype with or call. Perhaps we should start a group here on The Bee!!! </p> <p>I am so sorry for your loss honey. Sending you huge hugs </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200705 Thu, 07 Nov 2013 00:14:21 +0000 immabeetoo 1200705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: woo hoo! I don't know where you live, but search to see if there is a Macaroni Kid newsletter? They're national and list kid activities. Also check bulletin boards at the library or any local kiddy toy shops. Have you searched on Facebook at all? I found a local playgroup there that I've enjoyed, it's set up as a group, as well as a babywearing group. </p> <p>Our local toy shop where we lived previously had a story hour as well! Check your community and recreation center for baby classes too :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200653 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:52:58 +0000 sarac 1200653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: Honestly, lots of the outings I take my 2 year old on are more for me. She'd be happy spending a lot of days at home, but I have to get out daily to stay sane. Being a full time parent and setting your own schedule is a blessing and a curse. You have total freedom to engineer the life you want - but that takes a lot of work. I always tell SAH parents to really work to build a life that satisfies both them AND their child - to really make sure that they get their needs met too.</p> <p>How is your child in a pouch/stroller? At that age, my daughter was my little sidekick. I just went about my life with her in the moby wrap. We went to lunch, museums, coffee, we walked around town, whatever. Mommy and me movies. Hanging out with friends. She let me get away with that for a good 5 months - it was awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200630 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:24:35 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1200630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I treated my 4 months as a SAHM like a job. It was the only way I was going to survive! We went to a baby class and I worked hard to schedule a date with another new mom every week... so each class resulted in 2 outings. I walked around the little local lake every day just to get out of the house. I planned coffee dates around other friends' schedules, we went to Book Baby at the library. I joined any free activity for new moms that I could find... which meant that I went to some random classes, meet ups, and activities. If I was really stir crazy, I went to the local coffee shop by myself. She'd always fall asleep with all the white noise and I'd read a book and sip a chai. It helped that I was in a large metro area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200618 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:16:48 +0000 Pepper 1200618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: I just signed us up for one tomorrow! I guess you can go to one for free to see if you like it? Hoping it's fun for both of us :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200595 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:02:49 +0000 mrsjyw 1200595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: do you have a gymboree near you? A loves his class and I know that the classes are grouped by age! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200593 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:00:49 +0000 Pepper 1200593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: Great hint about Barnes &amp; Noble. I would have never thought to check there, and they do a story time two days a week at the one in our area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200551 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:22:33 +0000 meredithNYC 1200551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do think you're at a tough age. At four months my LO was napping so frequently (ah, the blessing/curse of nap training) and she was able to do so little that it was tough. We did go on outings with moms and babies from our local mom group, but I still felt pretty isolated for a lot of the day. I do think it got easier when LO was around 6 months old, though. She was just more engaged with the world, you know? And getting her out and about was just easier for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200547 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:21:07 +0000 tlcbaby 1200547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is almost five months and we are the youngest at our Mommy and Me class, but it is almost better because he is so little that I can hold him for most of the exercises instead of chasing him around the room the whole time. </p> <p>We go to that twice a week, a new mom's group once a week and try to get out of the house to the grocery or for a walk on other days. </p> <p>I listen to a lot of podcasts in the car so I can hear some adults talking. :) The Boob Group and Parent Savers are my favorite parenting ones, but I also listen to some paleo podcasts, Jillian Michaels and some NPR podcasts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200536 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:14:50 +0000 immabeetoo 1200536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We leave the house every day at least once. We go to the library at least once a week; they have a "play space" and story times, Barnes &amp; Nobles has a storytime, and I'm in two different playgroups. Look on Meetup.com! If there isn't one in your area, start one :) I also think texting friend or your SO throughout the day helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200529 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:06:58 +0000 Sapphiresun 1200529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: I'm mostly posting to follow, but I started taking LO to Mommy and me at 7 weeks old, and she was the youngest - but only by a day! And now that she's three months there's plenty of babies smaller than her. And tomorrow we start a Fit4Two class that I'm really looking forward to hopefully meeting more other moms. </p> <p>I'm on mat leave for a year, and it's definitely isolating sometimes. Back when I worked retail, I thought the people who wanted to chat with me were so strange, and now I'm totally that person... yikes.</p> <p>But I'm following for other people's ideas too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200496 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 20:46:49 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1200496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you've gotten a bunch of replies already, but so far we have:<br /> - joined a mom's group at a local church<br /> - made a plan to get out of the house (lunch, mall, something) at least twice per week<br /> - headed to the library.<br /> At only 3 months, these outings are totally for me and not K. But eventually, she will enjoy them too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200452 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 20:17:26 +0000 sarac 1200452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: Also, any kind of church. I know how hard making those connections is, but it is so worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200167 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:47:52 +0000 Pepper 1200167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These are great suggestions, thank you! I'm going to actively look for groups or clubs in my area. I think even going to the park on a nice day could be fun. I'm used to always being busy, so I think scheduling some stuff for us would help me to feel more normal again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200111 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:09:46 +0000 sarac 1200111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You need some mommy friends, stat. Groups, meetup groups, church groups, groups through your hospital/birthing center, lactation support groups - literally anything. You need to work your network, reconnect with anyone you know who's around during the day. Family, old friends, new friends. See if you can find some parenting groups around activities you like to do - I just found a hiking with babies meetup group, for instance. Check out local toy stores and inside play places, they often have fun activities. </p> <p>I moved to a new city when I was pregnant, and it took me a while to feel active and busy. It took a lot of effort on my part, but it sure paid off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200081 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:57:17 +0000 honeybear 1200081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think these are all good suggestions. I would add this: Give it time. It gets exponentially easier to meet people once your child is a little older and able to engage others. Keep the big picture in mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200058 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:46:19 +0000 MamaBehr 1200058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The best place I met Mommy friends was through my workout class called Baby Bootcamp. I have met almost all my close friends through that, and it makes all the difference. I've also joined a few groups through meetup.com and that helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1200034 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:37:22 +0000 Andrea 1200034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are always people just hanging out at the playground if you don't want to get into anything too organized. It's a relaxed environment and I can always find someone to talk to but you might have to make the first move. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199987 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:20:26 +0000 MrsF 1199987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely go to the mommy &amp; me classes, library story times, BF support groups - whatever you can find! I'm a really shy person, but I had to really suck it up and chat with some of the other moms at these groups, and I've made some really good friends that I get together with regularly. The groups may benefit you more than your LO when he's so young - but that still makes it totally worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199977 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:14:28 +0000 Mae 1199977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a mom yet, but I've worked at home (without even coworkers to chat with remotely) for over 5 years now. So I totally get isolation! Honestly boards like this and facebook are a lifesaver. I have friends I check in with daily online to get a bit of socialization. I also do a weekly yoga class with a friend after work. And I make an effort to see friends at least once or twice a month. </p> <p>I feel like not having a normal job means I have to work a lot harder to maintain my friendships because they totally keep me sane when I can go DAYS without seeing anyone but my husband. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199971 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:11:29 +0000 lamariniere 1199971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mommy groups are a major life saver! At his age, a music class or library story time could be good too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199967 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:08:32 +0000 hilsy85 1199967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mommy groups, classes, going to the park and striking up conversation...we started a mommy &amp; me class at 3 months, I definitely don't think 4 months is too young. Do you have a kids club, little gym, gymboree, etc near you? Or music together? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199964 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:07:38 +0000 Ra 1199964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I joined a mommy group. B is the youngest by far but no one seems to mind. We also do story time at the library. I plan to attend a local baby wearing class and BF group. I'd like to Gymboree but plan to wait a few months for that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199663 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:34:06 +0000 winniebee 1199663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to do something every day whether its story time, music class, park, grocery store, gym (has daycare). We just moved to a remote area and while my son is older (17 months) it can be isolating since I don't have family or friends here. I find that going to activities is often more for the moms than the babies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199641 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:24:06 +0000 deerylou 1199641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our library has an early literacy class for babies 0-3. The yoga studio downtown has a postnatal yoga class, where young babies are welcome. I'm sure if you look online, or ask around, someone could point you in the right direction of some suitable groups or classes. What's awesome about being a mom is that you immediately have something in common with other parents, so you can feel more comfortable making a connection.</p> <p>We are in a similar boat, as my daughter is almost 4 months, and I definitely wasn't planning on staying home, initially. I feel lonely and out of my element, sometimes! What I've found helps is to just get out - even if you're flying solo, it's nice to just interact with strangers - be it, baristas, fellow shoppers, or a nanny at the park. </p> <p>My dad is retired, so I try to see him once or twice a week. I have a few former coworkers who had babies just around the same time I did (pure, lucky chance), so we've been good about making plans once every week or two. I still feel a little isolated at times, so I just try to focus on the positive. Easier said than done, I know.</p> <p>HUGS! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199631 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:21:27 +0000 Weagle 1199631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Play groups! Classes! I get together with friends often. Yes, playgroups and classes are fun for kids, but to be honest, it's really more for moms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199622 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:16:44 +0000 looch 1199622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Make plans, make plans, make plans. Some days I felt alone in a big crowd of people, like when I'd take my son to the pool, but eventually, I would work up the courage to talk to other moms and I am so glad I did.</p> <p>I think classes are a great idea, as are playgroups. Do you have a MOMS club near you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sah-how-do-you-avoid-feeling-isolated#post-1199617 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:15:35 +0000 Dandelion 1199617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You could go to story time at the library. I did that a lot when DS was younger. It's usually called Lap Babies or something. It's a nice way to meet other moms. </p>