friendships

Have you ever felt alone in your parenting journey, searching for meaningful connections and parenting support that truly understand your experience?

Parenting support is essential for building strong relationships and finding encouragement along the way. Whether you’re navigating sleepless nights, behavioural challenges, or simply the daily stress of raising children, having a solid support network can make all the difference.

The Impact of a Smaller Circle

As adults, whether parents or not, we often find that our support networks and the people around us tend to change. From my perspective, they tend to get smaller.

When our support networks get smaller, they can become more impactful. There can be more depth, and the support can be exactly what we need in those moments.

Many things can change or shift our support network and those around us. These could include moving to a new location, outgrowing different friendships, or experiencing and moving through different life milestones, such as starting a family. 

Parenting Support: Navigating Friendships in Parenthood

When we begin the journey of parenthood, it has a whole different impact on support. Suddenly, our friendships and community around you matter in a new way and with new meaning, and the level of support can change from an occasional text message to needing people close by and in your corner more frequently. Parenting can be a lonely, extremely challenging and yet a rewarding adventure. One that I don’t believe any of us are truly prepared for until we are in the depths of parenting. 

Parenting Support Helps You Build a Community

When talking to other parents, a theme that commonly comes up is: how do we build our community around us when we are a parent with a child who may be struggling or feel lonely or isolated? We all crave social connections and to feel heard and seen by having safe people in our corner, but on the other hand, reaching out, connecting with other parents and feeling vulnerable in this space can be quite anxiety-provoking and open us up to feeling judged, criticised and the parent guilt of “what did I do…”, when there are already so many places in our communities that make us feel like that. Just like going to the grocery store to get a couple of items is not always a simple or easy experience, neither is school. 

Carving Out Time for Yourself

It’s essential to carve out time for ourselves, to breathe, and to find moments of stillness amidst the chaos. In these moments, we want you to know: we hear you, and we see you. Parenting is hard and, at times, extremely isolating and lonely. We can often internalise so many feelings inside us as well as having little time for ourselves.

Recharging and Recognising the Challenge

We want to remind you that finding a time to yourself, to not be touched, to not have to answer a million questions or navigate sibling rivalry, but to find moments of stillness amidst the chaos to give back to yourself is so important. 

Don’t get me wrong — our children are our biggest teachers, giving us the most joy in this world. However, we also acknowledge the other side, the toll that parenting can take on our mental, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. 

Here are a few practical steps you can take to find that connection:

1. Find Local Community Groups: There are a range of different parent-child groups within your local community that provide opportunities for you to connect with other parents of children of similar ages. This is a great way to build a parenting support system while also engaging your child in social activities. These include playgroups (playgroupnsw.org.au) and activities at the town library.
2. Connect with Other Parents: Reach out to the parents of your child’s friends to determine if they suit your personality and slowly build your support network.
3. Engage with Coworkers: If you are working, build a connection with your work colleagues who understand work-life commitments and the demands of juggling both. Consider organising lunch break chats to support one another.
4. Take 5 Minutes: Set aside some time each day for yourself. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in silence, take a minute to breathe, no scrolling, and have time to decompress and recharge. 
5. Join our Parent/Caregiver Group: At Explore and Soar, we will be holding a Parent/Caregiver Group every second Thursday of each month. Connect with other parents and enjoy activities like doing a puzzle, colouring or going for a coffee and walk; each month, the activity will be tailored to what the group wants to do. A fabulous and FREE way to connect with others in the Hunter region. We will have catchups in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Branxton and Singleton throughout the year. Check our website for details and to register today!
6. See the Benefits with a Wellbeing Planner: Jess Rodgers has designed a Wellbeing Planner for you and your entire family to use over the course of 12 months to either individually or as a family work on set goals and work towards improving your wellbeing in 8 different areas. This is an excellent opportunity for you as a family to sit down and set out some goals to achieve together while ensuring the family is on the same page and sharing activities, bringing joy and connection. Check here for more information
7. Engage Online: Join positive, supportive, and inclusive online community groups. Connecting online can enhance your experience and help you feel less isolated.

At Explore and Soar, we focus on building supportive communities for families in our local regions. It’s essential to prioritise both your well-being and the well-being of your family while enjoying connections with others to maintain mental health and overall well-being. 

We’d love to hear about any other fantastic community or networking ideas you have so we can continue sharing valuable resources within our community.

Remember, being together, sharing life experiences, and supporting one another will strengthen us.

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If you’d like to chat more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! Call us on 0477 708 217 or email admin@exploreandsoar.com.au

Until next time, 
Jess

PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2025

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