Minneapolis/St. Paul/outskirts Tribal Mamas? (TCC/AP-Style)

[AmyMN]

Hi all,

I live near Anoka/Elk River. I'm looking for a few like-minded mamas (and kids) that get together almost daily at each other's homes to clean, cook, do hobbies and socialize together {reference _The Continuum Concept_ (TCC) by Jean Leidloff}--plus, once or more a week, have the entire families eat dinner together. In a 'normal' society, this group would be extended family. But since things just aren't that way for me and a lot of others, I want to find my own tribe. I'm not interested in doing daily child-centered "play groups". I'm interested in doing day-to-day living stuff--stuff that we mamas just shouldn't have to do alone.

I've met some cool moms that live in Minneapolis, but that's far enough away from me that it isn't feasible to get together daily.

I have three questions:

1. Is there any such group that exists in my area?
2. For those of you that have such a group, how did you meet each other?
3. I'm considering relocating (I'm always considering moving :)) to another area in the metro or outer ring suburb to be closer to like-minded families. Any suggestions?

[mamarsupial]

there is a very active ap tribal community here in the twin cities (see the weekly tribal thread). many folks meet weekly on saturdays at a minneapolis coffee shop. pm me if you'd like more info.

there are also attachment parenting international meetings in st. paul, ne mpls, and edina. the ne mpls meetings are the second wednesday of the month, and the st. paul meetings are the second saturday. twin cities api (http://www.twincitiesapi.org)

i found the continium concept to be very enlightening - in terms of my own experiences as an ap parent, of my view on the natural order of things, and also on the biases and attitudes my own mother was faced with raising children in the 70s.

[browneyedsol]

Hi Amy!

I know you would prefer to meet mamas closer to you! I wish I had a magic wand! :dust I do so hope you find what you are looking for. I've always considered relocating and nearly did this past year...but loved ones are here and it is so difficult! I must tell you that some of my near and dears were met right here on MDC.

Three of us mamas are living next door to one another now (well, two now...one coming very soon).

You are welcome to come here. Two of us just landed last month and one will be, so there is some settling to be done, but please pm me if you are interested in joining us in the future, okay?

~Jess :hippie

[browneyedsol]

Oh, I wanted to tell you ('Supi too) that you might enjoy this book ...

The Primal, the Modern, and the Vital Center: A Theory of Balanced Culture in a Living Place by Donald W. Oliver.

Just FYI. :love

[mamarsupial]

oh, b...that sounds interesting! i'll have to see if my library has it. i just read "the continium concept" and last night was browsing over my well read, dog eared, and dog chewed (literally) copy of "our babies, our selves" so i'm in a sociology/ethnopediatrics sort of groove lately. thanks for the suggestion! :)

[battymomma]

amy--i do live kind of near you, but working FT puts me out of being able to get together with anyone almost everyday (i barely see my DH...), let alone cook and clean...eek!
but i do so hope you find what you are looking for and remember that we do meet every Sat AM in MPLS if you are ever up for some socializing!

[AmyMN]

Who is doing this and how did you get started:

Finding Our "Tribe" (http://www.mothering.com/9-0-0/html/9-5-0/finding-your-tribe.shtml)

[MisfitMama]

Amy,

Hi! I just missed you yesterday. (From TCC list) Just registered on Mothering.com this minute.

I could have written that flyer myself! I am interested -DESPERATELY- in all that stuff. I'm going crazy already with only a 4-mo. old, so sign me up for ANYTHING. Ezra is getting better at car-riding, knock on wood.

I am way into the non-child-centered get-together thing. I don't know how to can, but I do pottery already

Oh- BTW, the place of your dreams is Viroqua, Wisconsin. Anyone on this list from there?

~Danna (Ezra):banana :jaw
(Sorry - i just had to try those things out)

[AmyMN]

Tell me more about Viroqua, Wisconsin.

I want to find this book. Is it hard to come by? _The Primal, the Modern, and the Vital Center: A Theory of Balanced Culture in a Living Place_ by Donald W. Oliver

[browneyedsol]

Hi Amy...I'm always replying to you. :D

The book you are looking for may be found at www.great-ideas.org (or is it com?) Anyhoo...try the book list there. Pretty sure it is there.

Viroqua...:hippie You would never know it was there...until you stumble in and have a look around. I loved it! I did some Waldorf teacher training and workshops there. I will likely do more there this winter as I'm looking for the same things you are...so will do the workshops AND seek out if it stays on the list of possibilities for the future of my family. :hippie It is a Waldorf town. There are at least two (or three?) Waldorf supply companies (Magic Cabin Dolls and Paper Scissors Stone) there as well as Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School. I've heard it referred to as a hippie town. I say, smart hip hippie town (in my experience).

As always, BEST to you!

Jess

[browneyedsol]

Yup...here it is! www.great-ideas.org/oliver.htm

[bellee]

Hay Amy---I just sent you an email about this but forgot to put a "subject". Seeing as I don't open mail from anyone I don't know I thought I'd give you a heads up. I tried to PM you but your box is still full.

My email is stushell99@yahoo.com. So it's okay to open it :) If you delete it before you see this, let me know I'll send it again :)

[AmyMN]

delete

[smeta]

Hi Amy,

I live in Plymouth so I'm not *too* far - I'd love to meet you sometime! I'm into everything on your list too

One of the twin city AP tribal mamas - "Mamajuicer" - just bought a house in Coon Rapids. I'm sure she'd love to meet you too!

BTW, I wanted to ask you if you heard that Lakewinds Natural Foods (in Minnetonka) bought the natural food co-op in Anoka. I guess they are going to vamp it up a bit and add more organic produce and stuff like that!!

[AmyMN]

Hi smeta, Plymouth isn't too bad of a drive. Maybe we could meet half-way. Anoka Co-op looks great now that it's Lakewinds--I've been there a couple times since. Mamajuicer sent me a PM. Coon Rapids is close to me.