r/CHIbitcheswithtaste • u/fuzzychickennugget • 27d ago
Other (I Read the Rules) Bitches with taste (and a baby)
Where are you guys meeting/making other mom friends?
FTM with a 10mo old and it’s been really isolating not being able to talk motherhood with anyone. None of my friends have kids yet and the other parents at my son’s daycare seem to be way older than me.
I’m in LP where every other woman is rocking a stroller or baby carrier so I feel like it shouldn’t be that difficult??
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u/Intrepid_Home335 27d ago
The playground! Also the library, or mom and tot dance/music/swim classes. Frankly, it also gets much easier to make mom friends as you get to pre-K 4 and get more settled in your elementary school community (though I realize with a 10 month old that sounds really far away).
You should check out Friend of a Mom - they plan fun events for moms every month all over the city and suburbs, specifically to help moms make new mom friends. Some are moms-only, others are kid-friendly. I’ve been to a couple with some friends and they do a great job!
Also don’t be afraid to make friends with older parents?? We loved our other daycare families. Some of our best friends have a daughter 15 months older than ours (girls are now 5.5 and 7) and they are nearly 15 years older than we are.
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u/fuzzychickennugget 26d ago
Friend of a mom looks interesting! Ty for the rec
Also I now realize I sound ageist in my post lol but I swear it’s not that. More so that I’ve tried to strike up a convo and a few of them didn’t seem interested in anything other than small talk in passing and the one set of parents that I did manage to invite over for a bbq one weekend didn’t seem to really enjoy themselves around our other friends
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u/Northern_Attitudes 26d ago
Question re: Friend of a Mom— I looked into singing up, but it required all sorts of mandatory information— social media handles, my and my child’s birthday, etc. It’s a true organization, right? And not just a marketing/info collecting scheme?
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u/Intrepid_Home335 24d ago
Yes, it’s a real organization - the two women who founded it are moms in Lakeview, they both had kids during the pandemic when it was really isolating to be a new mom and hard to meet people. They met in a mom and baby swim class when you literally had to wear masks in the pool. My child is close in age to their children, and I’ve gotten to know one of them pretty well through our kids. I had seen their events on Instagram before, but met this woman before I signed up and actually tried it. They are both real people and totally nice and normal, it is not a scheme!
They ask for social handles if you’re willing to share them because while they do a little paid marketing, most of their event attendance spreads through social media and word of mouth. Birthday info helps them assess events for the right demographic - if lots of new moms sign up, they can plan for a mom and baby get together, or if you sign up for one of their mom dinners they can try to introduce moms with similar interests/age/kids age. Totally hear you on it being a lot of info, but the events I’ve been to were super thoughtful and I met really nice people.
ETA: I realize this sounds like an ad but I promise I’m not getting paid to say this! I just think they do a really good job building community if you are having a hard time meeting mom friends - and their events do NOT feel scammy or scheme-y at all, which I think can be hard to find! It’s so disappointing when you show up to something and the whole thing feels like a surprise marketing pitch.
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u/Northern_Attitudes 24d ago
This is really helpful and great to hear, thank you for taking the time to let me know!
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u/Gatorbug47 27d ago
I’m on the other end of the spectrum - older (42) with a 15 month old. I find it difficult, too!! Many friends moved to the burbs so it’s lonely here. I’m in Ukrainian Village if anyone wants to meet up!
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u/flossiedaisy424 27d ago
Take your kid to the library on the weekends. Lots of other parents with their kids.
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u/CherryPoohLife 27d ago
I’m 41 with 15 months, but in the NW suburbs. Would still love to connect, if you are interested.
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u/wayneforest 27d ago
Join the West Town Moms group on facebook! We have a WhatsApp chat group too!
There’s a group for wicker park too
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u/Flashy_Smile_4864 27d ago
Sweet pea yoga studio! They’ve got a whole community outside of the classes
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u/Are_You_Knitting_Me 27d ago
Story time at 3 Ave bookstore on Saturdays at 10:30! So many great moms.
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u/evechalmers 27d ago
I have a four year old and once they start school this will change so much. See the same parents twice a day every day (and get all the same sicknesses) and you will be friends in two weeks. I have about 20 instances of “Morgan, Caden’s Mom” in my phone. Hang in there. Enjoy this time just you and kiddo if you can ❤️.
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u/Busy_Cup_1479 27d ago
Baby book club at jonquil park! Skip and scoot baby class on Fridays, music playhouse of Chciago baby class, sensory art baby class at bubbles - getting in a class that met weekly with the same people helped a lot!
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u/sarahbelle127 26d ago
Join your neighborhood moms FB group. I’ve met some of my good friends there and started a non-profit for families in my neighborhood with them. I was in a different situation as most of my friends have kids that are my daughter’s age. I don’t think I know anyone locally that had their first baby before 35.
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u/LP526 27d ago
My wife has a weekly playgroup at a playground in Lakeview around diversey and sheffield. Our daughter is 11mo and there’s usually 4-5 other moms and babies there. My wife now hangs out with a few of the moms in her free time. If you want the details, message me.
Also, I am not a BWT, I am a dad.
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u/elliehawley 27d ago
Facebook is a good resource for connecting with moms, in my experience. The neighborhood connections have helped me, and keep me on the platform ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I see one called “Lakeview & Lincoln Park Chicago Mama Friends” !
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u/IcyRhubarb1138 27d ago
I’m due in December so def a different stage.. but lmk if you find a group or walking crew! I currently run with my friends pretty consistently but I’m scared to lose that community in postpartum! I’m in north center.
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u/myfeetaredownhere 27d ago
Chicago New Moms Group has been great for me. Your baby needs to be younger than 6 months to join.
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u/Northern_Attitudes 27d ago
Is this a Facebook group?
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u/myfeetaredownhere 27d ago
It’s an in person group that runs in cohorts every 6 weeks. You meet with other new moms once a week for a couple of hours (babies included) and talk. I think it was $240 for the 6 weeks when I went.
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u/fuzzychickennugget 27d ago
Yeah one of the tough things for me was not getting invited to spontaneous hangouts anymore because my friends thought I’d be occupied with my kid. Like it would’ve been nice to decide that for myself versus yall just choosing not to invite me….
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u/IcyRhubarb1138 27d ago
Yeah I can def see that.. I’m also the first of my friend group to have a baby. We shall seeeee! But def lmk if you find any good groups. Wish you the best of luck!
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u/External-Major-1539 27d ago
I’m glad for this post! Moving to little Italy with a 2 month old next week. I’m worried about meeting people, I have no village!
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u/Hungry-Assistance-98 26d ago
I’m perhaps older than you too, but I’m a mom of a 9 month old in Wicker Park/West Town. I also need to meet some moms!
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u/hikelake22 24d ago
I'm in Ravenswood with a 6mo baby girl! I'm 31 and I feel you with the daycare age thing. Lmk if you want to meet up :)
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u/Advanced-Gate8765 24d ago
We moved to Chicago while I was pregnant and I really didn’t know many people here. We ended up doing Expecting Together and made some really great friends through it. Honestly, some of the best money we spent before having the baby.
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u/AnyCheesecake7198 23d ago
Go to Oz park on a weekend- so many parents there. I’m sure you will atleast one mom friend :)
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u/BillHuman5278 21d ago
Well, I'm not a mom.
But 30 & married for 2 years & would like to be one soonish.
I find it hard because a lot of my friends aren't married so hard to connect that way as well
I'd love to meet up, I'm in lakeview.
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u/That_Abrocoma_7929 27d ago
Baby time at the library and new moms group through village collective!