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We all know that postpartum is not a piece of cake. In the early days, the whole family, friends, neighbors, and relatives would pour in to help the new mom. But as the days pass, they expect you to master caring for yourself and the baby on your own. Even though it’s true that they can’t be around you forever, you still need a few helping hands as a new mom. So how can we ensure that mothers feel supported long after giving birth? Becoming a community organizer requires a lot of patience, planning, and boldness, but if you’re one of the mothers who think they’d feel better about parenthood if they had more support, it’s time to put in the work. Here in this article are some tips on building a community where you can come together and help new moms, and they can, in return, help when you have a little one. Sounds helpful, doesn’t it? Read on to learn all about it!
1. Organize A Food Delivery Service With Your Neighbors, Church, Or Circle Of Friends
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Prepare meals in bulk and arrange a weekly drop-off time. Alternatively, you may also do bimonthly picnic-style potlucks on your lawn. Paper plates can be shared, but ask everyone to bring blankets and other comfort items so you don’t have to arrange everything on your own.
2. Reinvent The Barter System
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“I’ll give you ___ in exchange for ____” was a typical bartering phrase in the good old village. We are all able and in need of assistance in various ways. Get the ball rolling on your own “offerings” list and spread the word about this idea throughout your social group. You can become the preferred choice to watch the kids or do errands for the community. You’d benefit from having a week-long menu planner or a laundry buddy. It might be challenging to reach out for assistance on your own, but by doing this, it is less stressful to provide service in exchange.
3. Save On The Nanny Service
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Arranging a professional babysitter for a date night would cost about $45 per hour. Most people cannot afford a nanny; and this is where you need to say goodbye to your outings. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can always ask your friends or neighbors who will be free that day and have them look after your kids. You can do the same if some parent wants their kids looked after. It assures you to leave your kids with known faces rather than a complete stranger. And if they have kids, they will enjoy this a lot.
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Getting the kids into the car is a circus since we all have unending to-do lists. So why not combine resources? Time is always ticking with a newborn around, so the dry cleaners, the pet shop, and the supermarket duty can be shared. The question, “What can I get you?” sounds like a melody to the ears of new moms. All you need to do is make a proper list, maintain the bills and make sure you pay them on time for what they get for you.
5. Make Friends With The Neighbors
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As kids, we have all done things like running to the neighbor next door to borrow an egg so our mother could finish baking the cake. Now, unfortunately, neighbors are not as involved as they used to be. That, too, may be restored; it’s only good neighbor manners. Simply bake some cookies, bring them over, and you’ll have made a new friend!
6. Support Local Businesses
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Investing in your neighbors is essential. For example, the best way to show someone you care about their flower business is to support a local flower shop. To the extent that you can, prioritize patronizing companies run by women. Help will come around someday.
7. Make Friends With New Moms And Learn From Their Experiences
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Say you and your mom-friend both need summer employment for your respective 13-year-olds. Perhaps your newly single neighbor is feeling particularly lonely now that she no longer has any children living at home with her. You can make her favorite dessert and invite her over for supper. This way you will get to know each other and create a healthy community where everyone can be of help for one another.
It is rightly said that it takes a village to raise a kid. But honestly, if everyone does their part in helping the mom out, no one will feel burnt from looking after a newborn alone. Would building a community like this help raise children? Let us know in the comments section!
