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Comments From Mothers
Who
Have Been In Our Groups
Comments from Group Members: Please read the Essay "On Becoming a Family - My New Mom's Support Group 1982" , which gives one woman's account of the first Mothers group and the effect it has had in her life. "I just wanted to let you know how important your support group was for me. I feel so grateful to have had you, and the group, during such a critical time...to share joys and hardships and information. You a re a very special and gifted facilitator. I learned a lot from you and the ways you gently guided and supported the women in our group. Thank you for providing such a wonderful service to us new moms. When I reflect on my baby's first weeks, I will think of you fondly. I hope we cross paths in the neighborhood, and in the world of motherhood. Blessings, and much gratitude." "Thanks again for a great experience in the group - becoming a mother really has made me feel like I'm part of this new "tribe" - and I can't think of a better way to be introduced to the tribe than through one of your groups." "I really did get alot out of the group which is why I recommend it so highly. In fact, I have decided that this is the one and only piece of advice I give pregnant woman and new mom's (join a mom's group). I was so resistant to the idea myself, but I have friends who did not do it (and regret it) who encouraged me to do it and I was truly grateful to them both." "Congratulations on expanding your groups with the addition of several new women. I've heard women talking about them at the playground and all the buzz is good. Please keep up this profoundly nurturing, life-altering (no exaggeration) service you offer. The Bay Area is a better place to live and raise families and be a mom and a woman thanks to you (again, no exaggeration)." "Before I had my baby, I felt very isolated living here. I was a newcomer to the area and I found that making meaningful friendships was very difficult and I had no family of my own within 2000 miles. Joining my new mom's group completely changed my life out here. I found my community and things really began to fall into place for me. To this day, those women are still my closest friends...There is just something so life altering about that first kid that really bonds you for life with the people you experience that with." "I can't tell you how excited I am about this mommy group. I left our first meeting feeling so much better about being a new mom. I knew in my 'head' that the challenges I was experiencing were not exclusive to me, but actually hearing about similar experiences somehow made it more real for me. THANKS for taking on the career of putting moms together!" "The group is wonderful. You're a great leader and moderator. It works so much better with someone with your experience. You're gentle but firm and it helps guide the discussion immensely. I'm having a great time getting to know everyone." "Admittedly, I was skeptical at first -- why should we pay hundreds of dollars when you can just as easily meet with friends you bump into strolling around the neighborhood? Soon after I caved in, I realized the value of the group. My wife had greater peace of mind, as well as the confidence to try new approaches in care -- and our little one responded making everyone a little more pleasant around home!" ( From a Dad) "An invaluable experience. I can't imagine starting motherhood without a group. You created such a nonjudgmental, supportive atmosphere." "I definitely internalized your voice, which seems very much to be a voice of acceptance, take care of yourself and have some scope and perspective." "You do your job seamlessly. You are sure not to dominate and you allow all of us to talk and talk (yet you don't let anyone talk for an unreasonable amount of time; you move the conversation along without belittling anyone). When you talk you always have something interesting, supportive, and/or educational to say. You value the health of the group. You have helped to set up an environment where we can all share our thoughts and feelings openly. BRAVO!!! I'm glad I decided to stay in the group. THANKS!" "Just a note to say how pleased I am with the mothers group! I really appreciate your gentle, but firm facilitation style and your pearls of wisdom; you make sure participation is balanced, help us cover the issues we raised, give us helpful information without being judgmental. I especially like your reminders that we have hard and important jobs as moms." "My participation in one of your groups was an extremely special and life changing event for me...my experience with the group continues to keep me grounded in reality instead of some fantasy version of what having children is all about. Our group is going strong." "Our group is still going strong. Each day I am thankful for the blessings of their friendship. The thing that's so magical about this group (and the others you put together) is how strong the bonds are with people you probably never would have known were it not for this one moment in time. And each of us is so enriched by having the others in our lives. Thanks so much!" "Thanks for your wisdom, compassion and your calming presence. This group has been so important to me in the last year and a half and has helped me to stay grounded and feel connected to a community." "Your group was one of the best things I did as a new mom (aside from sleeping). You helped me become confident as a parent and introduced me to women who I am still close with." "We are all so grateful to you for the gift you have given us. I wouldn't have survived, literally, without this group. There are so few resources for us these days, in terms of a real "village" - this is the next best thing. Love and gratitude. I honor you." (group meeting still meeting at 10 year mark) 13 years later: "This weekend, my mom's group is going away on our annual retreat (no kids, no partners) I feel so fortunate to have this support group still. I remember that at the first meeting I thought that I really didn't have much in common with these women--and now I look back and marvel at how similar we are. (Although from the outside looking in, our similarities are not so apparent) We probably have so much in common as a result of the group itself." 20 years later: "We STILL meet as a group once a year. Last year we went to Sea Ranch for the weekend--just the moms. We are all in contact with each other, in fact we are good friends, and several of us see each other on at least a weekly basis. We think we are a real mom's group success story." 22 years later: "Joining this group was the best thing I ever did! My friends in this group are friends I can depend on for help and encouragement at any time in my life. And they can expect the same from me! We meet at least once a year and some of us a lot more often....If anyone had told me 22 years ago that I would still need support in raising a young adult at this stage of life I would have been astounded. Mothering never ends and neither does the need for support from our friends. Thanks for getting us started all those years ago." "Things you said in our group (9 years ago this summer) still resonate with me!" "Our group is still together and we're in our 11th year. We've really been through it all together now, (except, of course, the teen-aged years *YIKES*). It's an amazing gift to have these women to turn to. It's something really valuable that you do." "We just had our moms group kids' 6th birthday party, and the cake had a photo transfer on it - of the babies on your white couch six years ago!"
"Our group still meets every Thursday morning on a regular basis with frequent additional play dates. Last summer we all went on a two day camping trip. It was beautiful, fun and crazy (there were eight 1.5 year olds and 16 adults). We're planning our second annual trip."
Jennifer Subasic-Marks, CBE, CLE, Doula and Mom |