A daily exchange with someone older than 8 is a small but welcome triumph for Erika Blumer.
The Martinez mother of four spends most of her day warning of timeouts and scheduling potty breaks between mealtimes. Augusta Area Mommies, a support and networking group for moms in Columbia, Richmond and Aiken counties, has given Mrs. Blumer a safe haven from kid stuff, she says.
"It really makes me feel like I'm not so alone," Mrs. Blumer said as her children ages 8 to 6 months played at the splash pad at Evans Library Park. "I'm stuck at home with kids all day, so it's nice to have a virtual conversation with other moms."
Jennifer Stanley, an Evans mother of two, started the group and hopes to help other mothers as she was helped several years ago. While living in the Charlotte, N.C., area, Mrs. Stanley found out about The Mommies Network, a national organization. Joining the group helped her find the right preschool for her daughter, now 5, and bond with other area moms.
"We moved here in February, and I realized that this area didn't really have any mommy-centered groups or Web sites," she said. "The main goal is to support other moms and help others in the community."
About 65 people have joined since June, and the mothers are planning to raise funds and participate in an autism walk in September. As the group grows, Mrs. Stanley said, she hopes the network can conduct several events for families in need.
The group has gathered for moms-only nighttime outings and play dates since the organization's inception, Mrs. Stanley said. Those who join can access the message boards, online forums and information about restaurants where children eat free. Registered members are also invited to the monthly outings at parks in Columbia, Richmond and, eventually, Aiken counties.
The most helpful element of Augusta Area Mommies is the advice and support offered on the Web site's message boards, said Charlene Newsome. The first-time mom of a 3-year-old said the feedback on schools, family-friendly restaurants and other parenting issues has been beneficial.
"It's something that my friends without kids and my husband can't really understand. It's just a great resource," she said. "When I'm stressed and needing support, it's nice to know I can talk to people without drama that won't judge me."
Moms interested in joining can contact Mrs. Stanley at jennifer@augustareamommies.com.
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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It is sad. When I was growing up, we had a network like this. It was our grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, church groups and friends of the parents who took up the slack. I remember going fishing all day with my uncle Joe. I remember spending weekends a few times with my grandmother or my great uncle and aunt. And after school, somebody was home waiting for me, usually with some food of some kind. I guess those days are over. I will make sure that I am that person to my grand children and nieces and nephews so my family does not need this kind of thing. And, perhaps you should be judged.
People helping people without a government involved is always a good thing. Please don't try to get controlled by the government by applying for some kind of Obama funding.
umm.........this story has NOTHING to do with politics.........
I don't hear these moms saying that they are replacing family. They are stay at home moms looking to connect with other moms and children during the day. Even if they were stepping up into the family role, not everyone has family around. BEinga military area, this area is very transiet. As nice as it would be, most extended family can't afford nor do they want to follow their children around the U.S. and sometimes the world. My nearest family is 3.5 hours away and let me tell you, some of my friends here have been here more for me than any family ever has.
Kramer, I think there is a five letter word for women like you. This is a great opportunity for mothers to get out of the house and socialize with other mothers. I encourage my wife to join a groups like this. Not only is it a way to make our daughter interacts with other children her age, but also a way for my wife to make new friends as well. This is a military town and being a life long Army brat myself, it wasn't my family that was there for us, it was our Army family. So for you to say that it is sad, and that we should be judged, I judge you and call you a five letter word that rhymes with itch! To the women in these groups, I applaud you for getting together like this to support each other!
I have been appalled at the venom around here toward stay at home moms. I'm pleased to see that there is a new support group for them. I would have been lost without MOM (Mothers of Multiples). We had enough stay at home moms in the group that we were able to support each other during the twins, triplets, etc., early years. We tragically lost one working mom of multiples that tried to have a tummy-tuck in combination with her C-section so she could go back to work ASAP. She died from complications.
Kramer, all of my family, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and cousins and my entire church family is 7.5 hours away. I don't have constant access to them. All of my friends in real life are also 7.5 hours away so what's sad is that I have found a place to make new friends and you feel it's within your right to judge. Well, nobody has the right to judge expect God and I seriously doubt you come anywhere close to being like Him.
This is a great resource especially for us military wives because we move so often and have to find and make new friends in each new place we go so that we can build a support system in case our husbands deploy, like mine probably will soon.
Wow, Kramer...how very fortunate you are to have grown up surrounded by so much family. My husband has been in the Army for 10 years, with deployments to Kosovo and Iraq. Because he has chosen to dedicate his life to defending this great nation, the same nation that has allowed you and your family to live where you choose and, additionally, to have the support of your entire family, he has missed many milestones in our children's lives. I am doing my best to raise happy, healthy, thoughtful children in the absence of the support system that YOU grew up with, because the Army moves us somewhere new every few years. I don't have the luxury of family close by. I would LOVE to have that...but I don't. This organization is providing support that some of us are missing because of our husbands' commitment to our country. Consider that while you sit there judging us.
Kramer, you have a very narrow view of what family is. Why can't my children's family also include close friends?? I also do not have the luxury of having family close by but am very much need a support system, not only for myself but also for my children! I WILL be the one home when my children come home from school and if the want food, I WILL be the one who provides it! Unfortunately, not all moms have the option of staying home and are wonderful mothers just the same! And they also need a support system! That is what this group is all about....supporting one another NOT judging them!!!