Running a Book Group for Mothers

Moms are busy women, no matter what the age of their children. But in spite of - and perhaps because of - the restraints on their time and energy, the escape offered by a book group is especially inviting. However, to be successful, a book group for mothers has to recognize and allow for the unique characteristics of its members.

Recognize time constraints. It is difficult for mothers to carve out time out of the house when schedules are packed with work, school, play dates, sports, house work, family time and many other obligations. Set a time that is convenient for as many members as possible, whether it's early Saturday morning or later in an evening after kids are in bed.

Give plenty of socializing time, but also be sure to talk about the book. Sometimes this means setting a pre-established time to move to the literature discussion or appointing one member to steer the discussion back to the book. If the entire book group time is spent talking about so-and-sos in-laws, children, or peonies, some members will likely feel their time would be better spent in other ways.

Turn the focus away from children - or don't. Be flexible based on what members want to read. Many mothers of young children who are entrenched in childcare issues enjoy reading books like Jill Kargman's Momzillas, Jane Green's Babyville, or Jennifer Weiner's Little Earthquakes because of the child-centric topic. Others prefer current literature that has little or nothing to do with parenting issues and addresses broader topics like Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Have the right number of members. Mothers are busy women and their time is not always their own so not all member will be able to attend every time. If there are less than five attendees, the book discussion will not be as rich. Similarly, it's hard to have a deep conversation with 20 people. Encourage members to invite their friends. Book groups for mothers combine multiple interests and weave a strong support system and conversation for women.

Be flexible about reading materials. Book groups do not only have to read and discuss the great American novel. Mix it up. Choose short stories. Read favorite children's literature. Pick a light read once and then read a classic the next time.

Establish a pattern for choosing books. Not everyone will be interested in every selection but don't let choosing books become a bone of contention among members. Determine if the next book will be chosen by vote, by one person on a rotating basis, or drawing from a list of suggestions.

Set the next meeting date before leaving. If the date is on the calendar, mothers will be much more likely to read the book and attend the next meeting. It's too easy for day-to-day life to get in the way of setting another meeting date and soon six months will have gone by between meetings.

Book groups serve multiple purposes: social outlets and literary endeavors. Busy mothers probably don't have a lot of time to devote to either, and thus a book group is an opportunity for multi-tasking at its best.