[Girl*In*Camo]

I am a mother of a 3 year old daughter. I had my daughter kind of late in life. The majority of my friends have children, and most of them had their children when they were a lot younger. I was always the one friend who didn't have any kids. Now that I am a mother a lot of those friends I don't really see anymore because we all move on in life. I don't have many friends in general but the ones that I do have either don't have kids or their children are a lot older than my daughter so it doesn't really work out quite the same way.

It's always just my boyfriend, our daughter, and I. Which is great but at the same time it would be nice to have friends that had children, especially closer in age to my daughter. It's a win win for everybody, the kids get to play together and so do the adults. I also feel like I'm craving having another mom around just so I can have someone to relate to. I've struggled with adjusting to motherhood and it would be nice to have someone close to me that's going through this journey as well.

I can be kind of socially awkward as well and it can take a little bit for me to loosen up with people so making friends for me isn't that easy, unless I'm drinking then I can make friends with anyone lol

We barely go out anywhere and when we do we're not the type of people to go and talk to anybody. I just want some "couple" friends or just mom friends, I'm happy either way.

How the heck do I go about making "mom friends"?!.. I'm so lame! lol

[dshantel]

I wish you lived near me I don't have any friends as well. I have 4 kids, 7, 5, 3 and 7months. We stay inside most the time and I'm going crazy because of it. It would be great to have adult conversation other than just my husband.

[Sunflower123]

At my church there is a Mom 2 Mom bible study group that isn't overly religious...usually doing bible studies on some aspect of parenting or better living. It's kind of a support group for moms. Childcare is provided. You could check into something like this in your area whether it's at church or outside of church. Even though you are an older mom, be open to having mom friends of all ages who have children around the same age as your daughter. Finally, your daughter will soon reach the age where she may get into softball, cheerleading, gymnastics or something similar and you can make friends that way. Good luck and best wishes.

[Bill3]

Will your daughter go to pre school.in the fall? You might be able to meet other moms there.

[Trippin2.0]

Are you still friends with the moms who's kids are much older?

They can still be a source of support and friendship, even if your kids can't actually play together.

My daughter is 13, my bestie, her daughter is only 1... If anything it works out better in some ways.

My daughter loves to watch the little one, and I've been through almost everything she's experiencing for the first time and can either give her a hand or ease her anxieties...

To answer your question, Idk how to make new friends, lol. I've kept my old ones, new ones didn't seem to stick.

[Crazy Hitch]

There might be a Facebook group in your area for mums with kids? Not sure how old your daughter is though, but there's a chance.

[MickeyCheeky]

If all these options don't work out, remember that there are a lot of moms here I know it's not the same thing, but still..

[metalchick]

Meetup.com may have a group for this, if not you can start one.

I understand and sympathize with you. For me it was the opposite though. I had my children very early in life while my peers all waited quite late to start their families. Many friendships just fell away as we no longer had anything in common. Now things have reversed. My children are grown adults while I have friends whose children some of which are still in diapers. It is all very hard to socialize.

But this is what I did when I was mom alone with young children. I could not afford babysitting so I found things to do with other young moms. The local fitness facilities and recreations centres were my primary sources of socialising and establishing new connections. I found mother/child courses whether they be fitness related or otherwise (ie. arts and crafts classes, etc). Often, socializing would follow such outings such as heading out for coffee, etc.

Today, in the age of the internet and social networking, I imagine it is easier. For example that meetup.com mentioned above is a fabulous way to meet new acquaintances. In the meantime, visit community halls and rec centres and check-out the notices for groups, etc.

Finally, if you haven't done so already, become involved with a support group. They often have a social component to them.

[TishaBuv]

Play groups. Go to the park with your daughter and encourage her to be friendly with the kids who are there. You can be friendly with the other moms who are there. Say hi, make small talk.

I met so many moms through having kids. I put my kids in preschool when they were 2 or 3, and I joined play groups with those moms outside of the preschool.

We'd go to places on vacation and I'd encourage my kids to make friends with other kids in the pool or in the playground, and I'd talk to the parents.

Just mingle, and teach your daughter to mingle.

Have you tried parent and toddler groups?

Other than that you could try taking her to 'soft play' (indoor activity centres for kids) and maybe you can get chatting with other mothers there when the kids play together.

There are lots of groups out there for mommies and kids. I don't know if they gave Meetup.com in Canada but maybe they do? Or message boards at daycare where you could put up a request. It's hard to meet new friends but it's possible so keep looking if that is what you need.

[Girl*In*Camo]

Thank you everybody for taking the time to read my post and to respond with such helpful suggestions.

I think it would good for my daughter and I to enroll in some sort of toddler and mom group and hopefully we'll meet some people through that.

I have social anxiety so getting out there and meeting new people is a hard thing for me but I think it would be good for myself as well as my daughter.

So now I just got to bite the bullet and get myself out there!

Thanks again for all the awesome suggestions!