Parents make up a large portion of the Meetup community. In fact, there are nearly 2,000 Meetup groups around the world dedicated to different aspects of parenting, from support groups for new mothers to kid-friendly event planning. With all of these members, plus the parents taking part in groups not directly related to raising children, Meetup is a resource for millions of parents globally.
One of the reasons that so many parents turn to Meetup is because they find it difficult to maintain their friendships after having kids. If you’re a parent, then you’re probably familiar with some of the common challenges standing in the way of a strong social life, such as:
- Free time in your schedule becoming a rarity
- The financial strain of arranging childcare
- Struggling to find the energy to focus on yourself
Despite these challenges, it’s essential for every parent to continue to value their friendships. Not only do you deserve to have some fun, but the strength of your social life can actually go a long way toward making you a more relaxed and capable parent. That’s because positive relationships contribute to everything from increased confidence and better problem-solving skills to reduced feelings of stress and isolation, according to Psychology Today.
As a parent with a huge amount of responsibility, it’s easy to neglect yourself and your needs. But if you follow these five simple tips for maintaining a social life while raising kids, your whole family will benefit!
1. Prioritize yourself, too
This is all about changing your mindset in a way that’s healthy for you and your family. As a parent, of course your instinct is to put yourself last. But making a habit of sacrificing your own happiness will take a toll on your energy, motivation, and resilience.
Instead, give yourself permission to embrace your personal life outside of parenthood. By carving out some dedicated social time, you’ll increase your level of satisfaction and self-actualization. In the big picture, this will only make you a calmer, more clear-headed caregiver.
2. Make a social schedule
Before parenthood, when you have fewer responsibilities, you can just improvise when it comes to seeing friends. There’s so much more time and space in your schedule, so it seems unnecessary to create a real structure for socialization. But when you have kids, you often don’t have that same luxury. To maintain your social life, try forming some routines that can fit neatly into your schedule. It’s okay to start small—try scheduling a phone call with a friend once per week, or catching up in-person with your bestie on a monthly coffee date.
3. Bring your kids to social events
There are plenty of activities you could do with friends that are also suitable for children. Maybe instead of meeting friends at a bar, you could all picnic in the park. Meetup groups like Desert Mommies Club combine positive parenting and social interaction with outings to the zoo. PNW Hiking with Kids has nearly 100 parents getting together to explore nature with their little ones!
4. Meet parents through Meetup+
Meetup’s newest subscription offering, Meetup+, makes it easier than ever to spark adult friendships (something notoriously difficult to do). With the member profile feature, you can update your “life stage” section to indicate that you’re a new parent. Updating your own profile unlocks your ability to view other people’s profiles, and see what you have in common with fellow attendees who RSVP to the same events as you. Start a free trial of Meetup+, and forming valuable connections with other parents will be a breeze.
5. Take advantage of opportunities to engage virtually
In-person connection is a must, but as a busy parent, you might want to supplement face-to-face interactions with some convenient online hangouts. There are virtual support groups for parents, like Mpowered Single Moms Meetup Group, where you can share experiences with people who truly get what you’re getting through.
But you should also seek out opportunities to be social in a way that has nothing to do with your role as a parent. For example, you might work on a new hobby with a community like the Pittsburgh Sketching Meetup Group, whose 1,500 members gather online every week and respond to different drawing prompts. You can even create your own Meetup group and host your own events right from the comfort of your home.
Last modified on December 18, 2023
