I have no friends!!!

[RizasEarth]

Salaam...

My name is Khalila... I just moved to northern NJ, and I'm looking for other AP moms and/or muslim moms in my area... also looking for neat things to do with my kids... playgroups, classes, etc...

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

[Bladestar5]

I am not from your area, and I am not Muslim, but I just wanted to give you a hug, and some encouraging words!!:hug
I have just started a new friendship with a mom in my area. She asked me how old my baby was, and then mentioned that she had a little boy. I told her my son was around the same age as hers, and she asked if I wanted to get together. She is very nice, and we hit it off right away. Try going to the park when it warms up, or try calling a daycare center and see who around your area would know of playgroups. Often daycares will know these things. There might also be someone at your library who knows. Our library has storytime for the kids, which is nice. Good luck!!

[hkrose]

hi! I will actually be delivering the baby out of hackettstown hospital, and my midwife is right across the street... they might have some names of local groups- they might even know of some muslim groups in the area... their number is... 908-852-3443.

hope that helps!

[padomi]

Hi Rizas Earth - try checking out http://www.attachmentparenting.org/groups.shtml to locate an AP group in your area. Good luck!

[paula_bear]

Hi Khalila. I used to live in Northern NJ. There is an official AP Group in Bergen County, run by Susan Esserman of Seventh Moon Doulas. You can check out her website www.seventhmoon.net and get in contact with her that way. She also runs a new mom's group. There is an informal AP-type group in Jersey City. Contact LLL of JC to see if it's still going on. LLL is a great way to meet AP-type moms. As far as meeting Muslim women, are you affiliated with a mosque? Also, have you tried taking your child(ren) to the park? I have met lots of other mothers that way. I wish you the best of luck!

[Lil'M]

Hi. I live in Northern New Jersey and there are some great moms in our LLL group. Check out our website at:
www.geocities.com/westorangelaleche

There is a Muslim mom who has come to the last few meetings. Her baby is about 4 months old. PM me if you want to get her number.

Good luck!
-Miriam

[RizasEarth]

salaam

thanks for the info. :) i will check it all out... the only thing is, i'm way in hackettstown... the closest mosque (actually the ONLY mosque) i have heard of here is in boonton, which is a good 45 minute drive from here. and i'm not sure, but i think that west orange and jersey city are both pretty far from here. i'm going to check out a local music together class and the local library to see if i can find anything within walking distance. i just moved here from philadelphia about 2 weeks ago and i think i'm just going through a little culture shock. :)

anyway, thanks again. :)
khalila

[goodcents]

Salaam Alikum Sister,

Fellow AP muslimah here....I am in New York City though and even though I am originally from NJ, I am not sure where Hackettstown is. I just want to give you a :hug and a smile and let you know you are not alone - moving is tough on the mind and the spirit.

I myself am looking for muslim momma resources - if you have any that would be great. When my husband and I do leave NY we often ponder where we can relocate too as being near a muslim community is important to us. I think in Newark NJ there is the Islamic Foundation of America - something like that - they may have some information for you.

If you are ever in the city please come join us at our mosque. It is the Masjd Al Farah on West Broadway and North Moore in the city. Juma is great - although very crowded. The holidays and thursday night zikrs are the best as the whole community shares a meal and worship. There are lots of moms and babes - I feel really blessed.

Good luck to you and I hope things look brighter soon.

With peace and blessings,
Justine

[RizasEarth]

as salaam alaykum

thanks for the hug! i found your masjid's website so i will show it to my husband and maybe we can check it out inshallah! it's nice to know that there are moms with their babies there because the place i used to go to frowned on babies in the masjid (the noise or the diapers or something...?)

hackettstown is right off rt. 80, exit 19. (pretty far west!) just barely outside of morris county.

maybe we can find/organize a muslima/mommy playgroup at a public park or something... if i find anything i will let you know!

khalila

[goodcents]

For Juma service there is at least a few children, zikr nights there really isnt many kids since it goes late (around 11 we finish the meal). The holidays there are always always lots of kids, big... little you name it.

I diaper and breastfeed in the bathroom upstairs or on occasion they let me use the office. And sometimes we get looks from people - but you know what those people arent baby friendly anyways. Most people love the little babes and engage with them.

There is a public park, Battery Park, which is about 10 blocks away but a nice walk. It is very pretty since it is on the Hudson River, it is one of my favorite parks in the city actually. If you came in for Juma it would be a nice thing to do afterwards - we could even picnic. I dont know of a muslim momma playgroup - but it is certainly something we could post up on the bulletin board in the mosque.

Is it difficult for you to get to the city?

[FroNuff]

RizasEarth,

I've been lurking on this thread and just wanted to say that I'm glad you connected with someone. :) I'm in Jersey, but I'm kinda far from Hackettstown or I would have responded earlier. Plus I'm not Muslimah (but I do subscribe to some AP things, does that count?) :p

I have a Muslimah friend who lived in Saddle River -- but her mosque was in Queens, so I bet that's too far. :(

[RizasEarth]

salaam

i'm actually about 45 minutes to an hour from NYC, and i don't know my way around at all. plus i think i would have a hard time going alone with my two kids (ages 3 and 11 months). i did look at the website for that masjid, and it looks really nice. so maybe i can get my husband to go with me some time. :)

my husband did meet up with a brother he knows down in new brunswick, and he was introduced to some people with kids... but i have yet to meet or talk to them, and i don't know what their parenting philosophy is like etc...

thankyou so much for the replies though, i do feel alot better at least knowing that there are people *out there* to talk to!

45 minutes from EVERYTHING!
khalila

[goodcents]

Hey Khalila,
Okay so here is another place that may have more local, less-than-fortyfive-minutes-from-everything, resources for you. I mentioned it earlier in the thread except I got the town wrong.

It is the Islamic Center of America 215 North Oraton Parkway in East Orange. I dont have a phone number for them but you should be able to get it from information.

The good thing about the mosque is that it is only 1 turn outside of the holland tunnel! When I was married there I was worried about friends and family from NJ finding it but like I said you cant really get lost since it is only 2 blocks from the holland tunnel and only one turn. Let me know if and when you and hubby plan on coming in and I can give you directions.

Glad we could make you feel better.

:hug

[goodcents]

Salaam Rizas. Just checking in, seeing as you have been quiet for a bit.

How are you feeling? Things getting any better?

Hope you are well!

[Dakota's Mom]

Hi, I'm not Muslim, actually more of the witchy variety. But I know what it's like to not have many friends. All of the friends I do have are friends of my husband's. I've lived here 6 years and still have not met anyone that I share interests with. I get along well with dh's friends. And I share a fw interests with each of them. But there is no one I really click with. Most of his friends do not have children. The one who does have children does not do any kind of AP. I'm in Bergen County. Looking for friends here too.

Hope you find a group to connect with soon.

Kathi