[Thomi'sMommy]

Well, we live in Auburn now and to tell you the truth, I'm lonely. I'm having a hard time making friends up here. I tried joining a group in Portland, where we use to live, but we didn't mesh, to put it simply. So, I'm thinking that if I want to make more friends, and if I want dd to make more friends, we'll just have to become more active in finding them

Thomi and I are willing to drive within about an hour to hang out, and we love visitors. We're both outgoing and love to talk (well I talk and she babbles), and we love to eat. We really like to read and listen to music and talk about the news, and explore new places, and just plain chill with others.

So, is there anyone out there??
(I feel a little silly being so....forward...)

 

[gretasmommy]

We are in Brunswick, which may be a little bit far for you guys. Have you lokked into a local LLL group? Any library story times? How about a music together or Kindermusik class? These are all ways in which I have found friends here.

Good luck!

 

[Thomi'sMommy]

Thanks for your ideas.

The problem is that apparently no one goes to the LLL around here, or the baby storytime

I'm gonna keep trying though. I might be in Lewiston/Auburn, but I haven't given up yet

 

[Montanabarb]

Hi,

I live in northern Maine (Mapleton, near Caribou) so I am not much help to you there, but I wanted to let you know that I sympathize. I moved here nearly a year ago, and I have not yet made any really close friends. I think part of that for me is that I started my family much later in life than most of the moms that I have so far, so finding someone with whom I have a lot in common has been a challenge.

I now have several things to go to, and I am hopeful that I will make good friends there, even if I am nearly twice the age of the youngest moms I know! I found a play group going on at the local rec center, and during the summer I met several moms at the playground. This winter several of the moms and I decided to get together to support each other for nursing / parenting (there is no LLL up here).

But be encouraged - don't give up on the resources that you know about. Sometimes a group experiencing a lull in attendace just needs someone to start coming, and the word starts to get out that new folks are coming. Or you may start hearing about other things going on that would be a good fit for yoou.

And though there are no/few moms at your local LLL meetings, the leaders are all moms who nursed at least a year, and they may be able to give you moral support in others areas of your life while you get your feet on the ground. Who knows? Your next good friend may be a leader!

The main thing is to encourage yourself to keep getting out. I do find it hard to drum up the energy needed to get out, but I am almost always glad that I did. Not that I am one of those amazing moms that gets out of the house every day!

Take good care of yourself,

Barbara

 

[Fiddlemom]

HI!

I'm moving to Portland with my two little boys and husband in May/June. I don't know my way around and have no idea where Auburn is yet but I'll be willing to travel and would love to meet you! Let's keep in touch. send me a PM and we can exchange contact info, if you like

best,
Jenny

 

[LilyDan]

I dont have any kids yet, but am pregnant in Portland. Just found out a week ago, due around Labor Day (ha ha ha). Let me know if you are down in this area...feel free to email me! Does UMaine have any childcare/parents group in L/A?

 

[pahkahsmom]

hey everyone...i'm a maine momma too! maine seems to be especially hard to find things to do, and it's even worse in the winter! i live in kennebunk (southern) maine, about 25 min. south of portland, and always looking for new mommas to meet. have 2 dd, 4mo and 2 1/2...crazy girls and i love em...portland is a great city, in fact i had my second daughter at the ballard house, the free standing birth center with the midwives there-- if any needs reccomendations, they are AWSOME!!! ballard house also does a mothers lunch, though it is packed, on mondays...the childrens museum is fun, too.
would love to hear from other maine moms!!

 

[Thomi'sMommy]

Barbara - I just wanted to say that it's pretty cool that you're all the way up there and still have managed to find things. Thanks for your encouragment.

Jenny - I PMed you

Lily - Congratulations! I was pregnant in Portland too, and I did a lot of walking. There is so much to do down there comparatively (and now I feel bad for ever dissing Portland after being in Boston). I went to Tommy's Park and read in the summer, went to bookstores, went window shopping in the Old Port. It was quite nice. Oh, and there is no UMaine up here. There's not really much of anything up here.

pahkahsmom - Yeah, those Monday lunches are pretty crazy - I used to go sometimes when we lived down the street from the Ballard House. What turned me off was that everyone just talked about diapers and snot and baby baby baby ALL the time. I mean, obviously it is a big part of life for all of us, but I tried to start a convo about current events or something and they all looked at me like I had started speaking Martian. It can be as cliquey as high school: exclusivism and snobbery up the wahoo. And I sometimes need that reinforcement that I am a complex human being: thinker, feeler, intellectual as well as mother and wife. I suppose that is why I have been looking for individual mothers who would want to spend time not just as fellow mothers but as people. Anyway, yes the Ballard House is nice - many people speak highly of it - you might be able to find some other York County folks there, perhaps?

Thanks everyone.

 

[LilyDan]

University of Southern Maine has a campus in L/A: http://www.usm.maine.edu/lac/

and they have childcare, so those folks might be able to connect you with some local moms:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/lac/childcare/

I'm going to check out Ballard House (if my insurance will cover it)...I've heard good things, too...but need to survive this 24hr morning sickness first!

 

[shayinme]

Hello! I just joined the mothering forum and am so glad to see that there are some folks from Maine here.

I am pregnant with my second child (due 7/21/05), my first is turning 13 so its been a while I had a baby though my 13yo will always be my baby.

Anyway I live in Saco, moved to Maine almost 3 years ago from Chicago, I am a freelance writer/consultant and finishing my last semester of grad school @ Antioch in NH.

I am planning on having the new baby at Ballard House, already signed up, had my first 2 midwife visits.

I am truly hoping to meet some area Moms, I haven't checked out the gatherings at Ballard House but I think my biggest concern is just connecting with folks who live in York County, I already know people through my work in Portland and you would think my 20 mins to Saco is 20 hours!!

Anyway just wanted to say hello!

Shay

 

[Jecca]

I mentioned this in another thread try checkign out wwww.ezboard.com there is a mainemamas lsit there if you cna't fidn it feel free to drop me an email [email protected]
there are several mamas in the york county area.

 

[mainegirl]

Heyyyy!

*waving*

I LIVE IN AUBURN!

Wanna get together?

Email me: [email protected]

Yippie!
- Jen

 

[mainegirl]

shayinme, who are you seeing for a midwife? I had all intents and purposes to birth at BH, too, and I saw Ruth Hope. She was so fantastic.

Unfortunately for me my son had other ideas and did a few somersaults in utero so he was too wrapped up in his umbilical cord to descend (3 times!) and in the end we had to go to Mercy for a CS. Ruth was with me every minute of the way and was a pillar of strength.

If you do see her, ask her about Jen who was in labor 44 hours and had a son with a full head of red hair!

TO EVERYONE IN MAINE:

For those who are interested/able, I would love to coordinate some sort of Crunchy Mamas Meeting in an accessible place. I live in Auburn but it would be no problem to drive to Portland or Brunswick. Ultimately I'd love to meet more mamas who like to do crafty things like I do, and plan getaways where we play with our kids and make stuff!

Have a good one!
- Jen

 

[corrie43]

Hi from Buxton!! Just wanted to let you know I am staring a real diaper circle in the southern maine area, the first meetings will be in Buxton until we find another spot. It's mostly about cloth diapers, but also a way to meet other moms. I'm what you'd call semi crunchy...LOL. I have 2 kids at home 4 y/o ds and 23 month old dd. If you want more info on the diaper cirle you can email me or PM me.

 

[missnairne]

Hi! I am a Maine mama too! I am in Dresden, which is about 20 minutes away from Bath, Wiscasset and Gardiner. I have three kids, Ds 13, ds 6, and dd 2. I would be very interested in a Maine mamas get together! I have no problem driving up to an hour from me, which includes Portland, L/A, Augusta....

 

[scrapadoozer]

Hello all of my fellow Maine Mamas!

We're in Gardiner (pretty close to you, Miss Nairne! Plus, my husband works in Woolwich

) and we would LOVE to be part of a crunchy Maine mamas meeting and are happy to travel and we also love company. I am from the Lewiston/Auburn area originally so we do travel to that neck of the woods quite often, too! We should all see if we can put our heads together and figure something out.

 

[edamommy]

We live on Mt. Desert Island, wish we were closer to all you other mothering mama's!

 

[mainegirl]

The handle "edamommy" made me laugh so hard!

I work during the week so the only good gathering times for me would be on the weekend. Maybe we should just pick a date, pick a place, and just show up there?

If you're interested, pick a date:

Feb 5-6
Feb 12-13
Feb 26-27

I propose we have an initial "Meeting of the Moms" for, let's say, three to four hours at a public place. If folks are willing to travel to L/A I know of a bookstore that has a function room we can rent.

Send me a PM if you want to come! Even if you can't make any of those dates, send me a message and let me know when you are available!

(getting excited now!

)
- Jen

 

[mooliette]

Wow, it's great to see such long thread all about Maine mamas!! missnairne I checked out your handmade toys. Awesome work!!

Well, I live in Wiscasset and work in Brunswick. I have two boys ages 6 & 4. I think a Maine mama's meet would be wonderful. I also work M-F during the day, so a weekend meet would only work for me.

I don't think I could contribute renting a room. If you are looking for other ideas, there is a pretty cool paint your own pottery place in West Bath called Wild Woman Pottery, could be fun for us mama's or mama's and kids. Prices are reasonable. I also think there is one in Brunswick called Clay Play.

 

[scrapadoozer]

Weekends are best for me, too. All of those dates you mention would probably work for us (we have no life :LOL ) Money is pretty tight for us so I am not sure if we'd be able to help contribute to renting a function room but if we can all figure something I am so there!

Thanks for trying to organize this, mainegirl!