How to Make and Keep Friends as a Single Mom

Being a mom can make you feel as though you are in a lonely state sometimes. This may not be true for every mom but most moms take on a vast amount of work and responsibility which leaves them little time for socialization. Many moms get so bombarded with work and caring for their children that years pass by without them ever having an actual friend or warm conversation with someone other than their mom or in law. Being out of the social scene for so long can make it difficult for them to make friends. They might even feel some anxiety. If you find that you are in a similar situation you should take a look below at some of the advice on how to make and keep friends as a mom.

Go out with your child frequently. You can frequent parks or play facilities or even to run errands or taking a trip to the local library. Create a routine and you are bound to see some familiar faces such as young moms or dads out with their children running errands too. When you see a parent don't be afraid to smile and say hello in passing. After a few times bumping into each other you can make a comment on how cute their kid is or how nice the weather is. A conversation might ensue from there. Try to keep the conversation going and don't offer your phone number right away but do introduce yourself. The next time you see the parent around offer your number and suggest a play date.

Now that the parent has your name and number and hopefully you have his/her name or number wait a week or so before calling. The parent might call you first but if she doesn't call you then her in about a week and ask if she would like to go on a play date. It is important to establish a meeting place and a time limit. Time limit is important so before you decide to call the other parent figure out a time limit. Do you want to meet for an hour or two hours? Letting the other parent know what to expect on a play date is crucial as there won't be any surprises and they will be more eager to set up play dates with you.

After the initial play date you want to make sure that you do not call everyday or every other day even. If you are too persistent you may force the other parent away from you. They will tire of you easily and think that you are needy. It's best to call once every other week and as you two get closer you'll find that these play dates become more frequent.

Avoid inviting yourself over to the other parent's house. The parent may not feel comfortable having you over her house just yet so avoid inviting yourself over. You should wait for the other parent to initiate it. You can however invite the other parent to your home if you are comfortable.

Don't think that just because you made a new friend that he/she wants to play baby sitter. So avoid pawning your child off on your new friend. Be respectful and if the idea comes up of watching each other's kid for a few hours on certain days then consider it. You should generally give it a few months before considering letting your new friend watch your child.

Avoid letting others tag along when you make play dates. You may know host of other moms with children but you should hold off on scheduling group play dates. This can cause tension and may offend the other parent. It also prevents you and the other parent from getting close. Inviting others along might make you seem impersonal to the other parent so hold off on group play dates until you two have bonded.

Lastly remember courtesy meaning never pry about the other parent's life and certainly don't come off as too critical. Remember you want to make friends and the best way to do that is to be a good listener and to be supportive. You can voice your opinion when necessary but always try your best to remain civil.