How to build community as a stay at home mom

How to make mom friends

When I made the transition to stay home with BabyCoolJ last year I went from having a very full calendar to not a thing to do. No mom friends, no playdates, no activites. As a social (yet love-my-alone-time) person, I knew I needed to work on changing that stat.

Within months I had met the most amazing moms, joined multiple groups and built real community. If we hadn’t moved, I like to think my kiddo would have grown up with all these friends, and I’d continue to have lots of play dates and mommy dates.

Now that we’re in a new town, I am starting from scratch. And I’m not letting any time pass! We enjoyed our first few weeks being home and getting to know our new town, but both my son and I need friends. We need community.

So I think I’m in a pretty good place to make some suggestions to moms out there that are seeking friendships. Here are some of my favorite ways I’ve met my mom friends:

I’m Not Scared: new children’s book will help your kiddo face their fears

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This is a sponsored post with Blessed Coast Books. All content and opinions expressed are my own. Affiliate links are used, and you may read my full disclosure here.

I decided to take a few days off from blogging to concentrate on my sweet boy. At only 2 1/2, BabyCoolJ has been such a trooper with our move. From staging our home, to running out the door, to living out of boxes, it has been such a great change being planted and building roots in our new community. We are now almost 3-weeks-in! And every day he says “I love our new home.”

For every season and change, I turn to books for my toddler. A good book can really speak to children, and it is amazing how a story can help them get through anything. Before we began packing, we read him Boomer’s Big Day on a daily basis. It really helped the transition of moving.

How to find a new church after a move

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Being a part of a church family is important to my husband and I. We want to be connected, be filled with His Word and grow in community. And we’ve learned (the hard way) what being disconnected does to our lives and our family.

But it can be hard to church shop. Hopping from church to church can be exhausting, and while I look forward to visiting a handful of new congregations, I wouldn’t want our list to be too long.

Innside the High Cotton Inn: our first night in New Braunfels

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This post was written in partnership with the High Cotton Inn. All content and opinions expressed are my own.

When we arrived in New Braunfels, our family was exhausted from packing, moving, driving and two closing appointments. Mi Amor and I were in desperate need for some relaxation before the next wave of chaos hit – moving into the new house.

20 quick & easy meals: What to cook while you are staging your home or packing for a move

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I’m going to miss my perfect cooking kitchen!

I can’t stop saying it….we’re almost moved!!! This year has been a whirlwind with making the decision to relocate, staging our home and now getting ready for our big move to New Braunfels this week.

We listed our home the first week in January and had to keep it staged, clean and tidy for two and a half months. Y’all, with a toddler!! A boy toddler. So, needless to say, finding easy meals has been a must.

12 packing hacks to keep you sane during your move (plus a free printable!)

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We are now in the home stretch! We no longer have to keep our house staged and I finally am past the stress that goes with constant showings. Now, it is all about packing, packing, packing!

As we’re in the thick of it (30 boxes down…30 to go!) I put together a few hacks that are keeping me and my family sane through the process. Feel free to drop in any additional tips or ask questions in the comments below!

Packing essentials for a non-vacation getaway with a toddler

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My husband has been traveling a lot, and with our home for sale and constant showings my sanity is wearing thin. So when my parents invited me and BabyCoolJ to Dallas for the week for a business trip, I was more than happy to say YES!

So what does one pack when they are staying at a hotel suite for a week with their toddler?

An unexpected fun place to take your toddler during the day

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We have had our home on the market for more than a month now. We used to spend most days at the YMCA or at friend’s houses, but with flu season in full effect we have been avoiding kid-specific spots.

Last week we had a showing scheduled for Monday morning. Thankfully I had advance notice so I was able to plan. But BabyCoolJ had developed a cough and I didn’t want to take any chances so I was desperate to find a decent, indoor place to go where he and others would be kept separate.

So I took my plea to the area mommy’s FB group and the best suggestion was IKEA. We don’t live far from one, so I thought…why not?

Best idea ever. Here’s why spending a few hours at IKEA with a toddler is the best non-kid past time ever:

Stress of selling your home got you down? Here are 6 scriptures to help with free graphics!

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Y’all, it has been a hard week. I mentioned here that we are currently trying to sell our home, and I am finally feeling the wear and tear from daily staging and caring for my toddler alone. Mi Amor has been traveling for 2 weeks, and while keeping the home clean with one less person is helpful, I am really feeling exhausted. So where do I turn to in times of distress? God’s Word.

Don’t get me wrong – I am still struggling. If I have learned anything in 2017 it is that God’s plan is so much better than mine. But in the thick of it, it can be challenging to be patient. Waiting on God can feel like being on the phone with no one on the other end. But I know He’s there, listening and working to make everything better than I can imagine.

How to get your home stage ready on the daily (plus a free printable!)

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We made the decision to list our home in December, and life has been a crazy whirlwind ever since. It was pretty sudden and we were not prepared at all, so we made it a full week of cleaning, staging and packing the week before Christmas. With prayer, determination and some pretty organizing items, we made it happen!

I’m all about making things pretty and organized (even though my life has always been chaos). And while I could write endlessly on how to pack up your life, today I am focusing on something way more intimidating…