Join The Club!
Getting together with others who share your interests is a relaxing way to make new friends and indulge yourself.
Sometimes we moms can feel cast adrift from the rest of the adult world. We’re so dedicated to the small fry running around the living room in nothing but diapers that we lose sight of our own needs. That’s when a familiar gnawing begins, and we yearn to chill out with a pal who has a polysyllabic vocabulary and can see over the dashboard.
Some of us are home during the day, while others work part-time, volunteer, or do the rush-hour commute, but all of us could surely benefit from a regular get-together with a great gang of ladies. Joining an interest-based club is an excellent way to do it. A club can add balance and zest to your life by enabling you to mix with a fun group of grown-ups, meet new people, and dedicate time to one of your passions or hobbies. Here’s how to find a club near you, plus ideas for how to start one of your own.
Get Into Gardening
If you’ve got a green thumb or like playing in the dirt, a gardening group is a neat way to get fresh air, unearth new flower-growing techniques, and cultivate fresh friendships. Your participation also helps spruce up your neighborhood! Many towns sponsor an official garden club, so you might want to start out by contacting your community’s recreation department or town hall. There are also a number of national organizations that work with thousands of local groups—by visiting their websites, you can search for one near you. We dig National Garden Clubs, Inc., The Gardeners of America, and Garden Central.
Read ‘n’ Chat
When it comes to thought-provoking conversation, there’s nothing like a good novel to heat things up. To find a neighborhood book group that is accepting new members, first inquire at your public library or local bookstore. If that route leaves you empty-handed, take a look at The Book Club Companion by Diana Loevy for ideas on starting your own. It’s chock full of reading lists, discussion starters, hosting tips, and even cocktail and appetizer recipes to keep your guests sated. Another great source of ideas and inspiration is Barnes & Noble’s online book review and discussion at bn.com (click the “Book Club” tab at the top of the homepage).
Money Talks
Did the word money catch your eye? Members of an investment club each contribute a certain amount of funds monthly to the “kitty” that the club invests as a group. Visit betterinvesting.org, the National Association of Investors Corporation website, to find seminars or a club near you (use the Learning Events search tool on the main page) or instructions on starting your own. You can also check out Chicks Laying Nest Eggs by Karin Housley. It’s an entertaining and easy-to-read guide to financial success, and it covers investment clubs. Chickslayingnesteggs.com, Housley’s site, is also helpful.
Moms United
A few of our readers have recommended Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), a support network that allows you to connect with other moms. The MOPS meetings are all about sharing the joys and challenges of rearing young children. Though the common interest revolves around kids, a mother’s support group can reaffirm your identity. MOPS is an international organization with more than 39,000 groups in the United States; find the one nearest you at mops.org. Similarly, the MOMS Club provides a caring community specifically for stay-at-home moms. Both clubs encourage you to bring your kids to meetings—childcare is provided.
Fitness for Fun
If physical activity is your thing, you might try the LUNA Moms Club, powered by Stroller Strides (a company that offers outdoor stroller fitness classes nationwide). Every month, they host playdates, moms’ night out, and other activities for your family—free! Visit lunabar.com/momsclub for more info. At hikingandbackpacking.com/hiking_clubs.html, you can find an extensive ist of—you guessed it—hiking groups across the country. The Road Runners Club of America website provides a breakdown of running clubs by state. A visit to your local YMCA, health club, or outdoor gear store might also provide you with a few leads.
Stitch Together
Much like the quilting bees and sewing circles our grandmothers enjoyed, today’s knitting and crocheting groups (some of which affectionately call themselves Stitch ‘n’ Bitch groups) gather to craft and chat. Check out stitchnbitch.org for a cool selection of craft books, a club search tool, and a how-to guide for starting your own. As with the other types of clubs we recommended, you can also check in with local resources—craft stores, hobby shops, etc.—about existing groups in your town.
