Motherhood can be joyful, difficult and sometimes seemingly impossible, and all of those circumstances are made better by having other moms around to share the experience. Whether you're new to the area or just new to meeting other mamas, here are a few groups to seek out if you're looking for recommendations, support, friendship, advice, workout buddies or all of the above. Some are general groups directed at all local moms, while others target more specialized interests, from exercise to political activism to homeschooling.
Chattanooga Moms
Chattanooga Moms has a general group for area moms on Facebook with almost 6,000 members, as well as eight neighborhood community groups ranging in size from about 400 to more than 1,000 members. Groups are active in Ooltewah/Harrison/Birchwood, East Brainerd/Brainerd/East Ridge, Red Bank/Signal Mountain, North Shore/Downtown/St. Elmo, Hixson/Soddy-Daisy, North Georgia/Lookout Mountain and Cleveland, Tennessee. To join, moms can visit the community groups page of the Chattanooga Moms website at chattanoogamoms.com/chattanooga-moms-community-neighborhood-groups and click on the area where they live to visit that group's Facebook page and request to join. Once accepted, members can connect with other moms in their neighborhood to organize play dates, get pediatrician recommendations and more.
FIT4MOM Chattanooga
FIT4MOM offers fitness classes designed for new moms to do alongside their babies in strollers, including Stroller Barre and Stroller Strides, both of which include strength training, cardio and entertainment for the kiddos such as songs and activities. Moms can also participate in wellness classes, running groups, high intensity interval training and more without their offspring. FIT4BABY classes are available for pregnant women, with exercises designed to prepare the body for all stages of pregnancy, and FIT4MOM also offers a local network of moms that offers opportunities to connect with others for play dates and moms' nights out.
Chattanooga Mom's Chat
With nearly 4,000 members and around 10 posts per day, Chattanooga Mom's Chat is one of the most popular private Facebook groups for moms. Topics discussed are pretty general interest, such as recommendations for services or places to play.
Moms for Social Justice Community
Come to this group's Facebook page, which has more than 1,000 members, to find other moms interested in causes related to social justice, discuss issues happening locally and learn about opportunities to take action.
Moms for Liberty
This conservative group is focused on parental rights, such as the right to control what reading materials are available in public schools. The group is active on Facebook and has a website at momsforliberty.org, where like-minded moms can find educational resources and ways to get involved on the local level.
Chattanooga Homeschool Moms
Whether you're looking for advice, ideas for lesson plans or potential play dates, this private Facebook group is your go-to for all things related to homeschooling.
MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
MOPS is a Christian organization with several local groups that meet in area churches, such as Grace Baptist in East Brainerd and Signal Mountain Presbyterian in Signal Mountain, to hear speakers related to parenting and interact with other moms. MOPS groups also organize outings to places like local playgrounds and ice cream shops. Despite the name, the organization has expanded its scope to include mothers of children of all ages. Find a group nearby at mops.org.