Mother’s Circle: Empowering Mothers in Motherhood
Top 4 Reasons to Find Your Circle
I was pregnant when I joined my first Mother’s Circle. I didn’t know anyone else in the group and honestly, other than one brief meeting, I didn’t know the woman running the circle either. But something called me to go, so I took a leap and just went. I had no idea how following that feeling would change my life. After 18 months in that Mother’s Circle, mothers coming and going, through a pandemic, becoming pregnant again, and delivering my second child, having that circle of women became a bedrock for me. I looked forward to those two hours once a month like Christmas morning. I would pop out of bed, help get everyone going, grab a Starbucks and turn up my radio on my way to Rachael’s house. I knew I needed this time for me because I wouldn’t stop smiling the whole time, there was a lightness in my step. Pulling up to Rachael’s, I couldn’t wait to walk through her door. The coziness of her home, the warmth of her food and drinks, and the genuine care the other mothers shared with me, those two hours each month filled me up for the next four weeks.
When Rachael was ready to open her Mother’s Circle again, I knew she had a waitlist of other mamas waiting to get in. While selfishly I knew how much I need Mother’s Circle, I also felt guilty because I wanted other mothers to feel how wonderfully full my cup was after a Saturday together. I explained my hesitancy to Rachael, and she asked, “well, why don’t you start one, too?” We know there are so many mothers who need and want this kind of connection, how wonderful to have two of these circles in our community instead of just one? As I get ready to open my doors to the first group of mothers, I have been asked many questions. Hopefully, these top four reasons to find your circle will answer them all!
Build: Our society would have us believe we are supposed to mother alone. Did you know prior to the Industrial Revolution, people lived in the villages they were born in, surrounded by family and friends, all of whom helped raise children? This is what “it takes a village to raise a child” means. When the Industrial Revolution started, young people moved away from family and into the big city for jobs and thus, began raising children without support. Current American culture continues to feed this lonely experience, but it’s not the way we are intended to raise children. A Mother’s Circle is a place for you to build your village and experience motherhood the way it was intended. In a community of supportive and loving women, we realize we are not alone. Navigating our way through motherhood can be far more difficult than we realize and having a village to support and provide assurance can help mothers thrive.
Share: Sometimes as mothers we feel pressure to always be grateful, not come across as complaining and look like we always have it together. The reality is, that while we can be grateful, we can also be exhausted, burnt out, or lost at the same exact time. Having a judgment-free space to be open and authentic is so important. In a Mother’s Circle, you can ask for help, lean on each other, and share breakdowns and breakthroughs. One of my favorite aspects of this time together is the space, to be honest with what’s in our heads and hearts. This open dialogue can help mothers grow in confidence both as a mother and as themselves.
Pause: Probably one of my most asked questions, or, rather comments, “I’m not sure I have time.” A piece of advice I was given once was instead of saying “I don’t have time”, say “it’s not a priority for me” and see how that lands. Sometimes when you phrase it that way, you still agree that it isn’t a priority for you right now. But sometimes when you phrase it that way, it stings a little bit and doesn’t sound right to you. I would encourage you to consider if carving out just two hours each month should be a priority for you. Personally, having two babies under two years old, wasn’t always easy. But every single time it was worth it. The relationships I made, the discussions I had, and the break in my normal routine was so vital to my mental health and to my growth as a woman and mother. Every mother deserves to feel nurtured and nourished. If Mother’s Circle isn’t a priority for you during this season, that is completely fine, but I do hope you have another way of caring for yourself. For any mother on the fence, being connected is crucial for our mental health. Mother’s Circles provide a wonderful space of empathy, understanding, and community. Not to mention, it is a really fun way to spend a couple of hours each month!
Laugh: And finally – laughter! To start with, laughter is proven to generate our love hormone, oxytocin, and happy hormones like dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. Additionally, it reduces levels of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. Reducing these hormones improves your immune system at the same time! While there are more benefits to laughing than what I just have listed here, the final one I’ll highlight is that it has an anti-inflammatory effect that helps protect your blood vessels and heart muscles, too. After learning the science behind laughing, I completely understand why I always left Mother’s Circle with a lightness in my step and a smile on my face. In a world that feels really heavy, especially the past couple of years, any place where I can find joy and laughter is a haven to me.
Looking for your circle? Join us! All details are on my Mother’s Circle page. Open to all mothers, no matter the age of your child, Mother’s Circle is a place for real, honest conversations about the joys and challenges that come with motherhood. We will talk about things like self-identity, relationships with ourselves, partners, family, friends, working, staying home, nurturing your body, and more. This nurturing circle is a safe, confidential space to be honest about what is in our heads and hearts, share life experiences and receive support and encouragement. The format may vary for each circle, but the intention is to always provide space for mothers to connect, share, support, and celebrate in a meaningful way. You will walk away from our time together feeling connected, emotionally lighter, and empowered by the positive energy of the group. Breastfeeding/bottle feeding babies are welcome to join us!
