I first moved to Michigan when I was pregnant, and I had my daughter early at 27 weeks, so I didn’t have a ton of time to make friends. As much as motherhood is the single greatest experience of my lifetime, it can be incredibly lonely. I’ve been working hard to create a community of parents that I can connect with and have found some incredible networks to dip my toes into and hopefully find some lifelong friends (or at minimum, someone to have a playdate with).
Libraries
Libraries are terribly underutilized, and they really should be your first stop. Many, many events are free, and you’ll get to meet people in your community. I myself live in Chelsea, Michigan, and there are many events such as Toddler Time, Yoga Storytime and more. You can even find an event that interests you as an adult, because wanting time away from your kid is A-Ok! There are watercolor classes, tech classes and more.
The Mama’s Network
I swear by this network. I found it while I was pregnant, and it was the first thing I signed up for in Michigan. The Mama’s network is a nonprofit that has classes that you can take with other parents, such as Stroller Strides, Mom’s Night In, Support Groups and more. Some classes are completely free, and others cost a fee, all depending on your interest and commitment level. What’s great about this is that many people come back for classes, so if you’re like me and take a bit of time to open up, you can still get to know people.
The Girl Gang of America
This is a group literally dedicated to making friends. The group starts online on Facebook, and then you can attend and host a myriad of events with people in the Washtenaw County area. There are happy hours, hikes, individualized events, and you can even make your own chapter.
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Related article: Washtenaw ISD Offers Free Birth to Three Playgroup
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LGBTQIA friendly options
As a queer mom, I am always looking for places where I can be myself with other parents. PFLAG Ann Arbor is a community of families who provide resources and education surrounding advocacy, shared rights and group support. They have both in-person and virtual meetings.
There is also the Jim Toy Community, which is an amazing space for queer people in general, but has a specific group for parents of LGBTQIA+ kids. They also have opportunities to start your own group, and there are many other opportunities to meet people, depending on your likes and interests.
Babies and Brews
Blom Events has this ongoing event called Babies and Brews, which is exactly what it sounds like. It’s weekly, and you can stop by and have craft beer, meads, ciders and snacks while hanging with other parents and your cute baby!
Win, win, win. This is one of the most low-key options on the list, which is perfect for new parents who don’t want an entire group, but do want to meet new people.
Fitness options
There are tons of baby and mom yoga places, which is great because you get to move your body and meet new people. Peachy Fitness and Tiny Buddha Yoga are just two examples. These are also low commitment since you can take a class or two, but if you love it, feel free to keep going.
You can also go to tons of swim classes. The Chelsea and Dexter wellness centers and Liberty Athletic Club do classes for your kiddos, but if you don’t want to invest in a membership, there are swim schools such as Goldfish Swim School and Big Blue Swim School.
Meeting friends can be so tough, but if you put yourself out there, I’m sure you’ll find the right group for you. Feel free to shop around until you find the right one. Community is so important, and it can take some time, so don’t give up!
