SAHM In Sherman Oaks

I am a 36-year-old stay-at-home mom also in Sherman Oaks. I have 3 boys (an 8-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 17-month-old). Sounds like we have a lot in common--my oldest was born in Berkeley, but we moved down here when he was 7 months old to be closer to family. I don't have a nanny or a housekeeper, either, though there are days when I feel like I could use both and more! Please feel free to contact me; perhaps we could get together at the park some morning.

Hi R.,
My name is K. and I'm a stay at home mom (I'm 48 and have a 5 year old girl (only child). I have no hired help and do all of the house work, yard work, school volunteering, cooking, cleaning, shopping, play date arranging, family gathering hosting, etc. Oh, and I run my own business from home. I just launched it in January of this year. You can learn more at www.vantagepointcreations.com. This lets me be "mom" from 2 p.m-8 p.m. and have something I love doing when she is in school. I'm just about to pay off my start up costs and then I'll work toward profitability this fall.

It can be done, however at the moment I'm wishing that a team of professional organizers would come to live and work in my home for free for about 3 months! Ha.

That's probably because I'm trying to go through all of the art, homework, photos, etc that preschool spawned. I'm de-cluttering because we hope to soon add two kittens to our small family. They would be my daughter's first pet(s) and we are leaning toward two because they are sister rescue kittens.

So... if you ever need someone to chat with via e-mail... I'm here for you. However my schedule to meet in person is really tight, as you might imagine.

Good luck out there. We DO exist, we just rarely have time for ourselves or social times not related to our children.

K.

Hey R.. I have an 18-month old little boy and I teach a Mommy and Me poweryoga class which is actually just a regular class that happens to have babies running around the room. I designed the class for people like you and me who do not have nannies or housekeepers and therefore REALLY need some yoga :)
I don't know if you're a yoga person, but the room is filled with lots of moms in the same boat ...if this sounds appealing my schedule is on my website-
www.allyhamilton.com
it's in Santa Monica which I realize is a bit far, but I know you'd meet great people. Hope to see you!
A.

Hi R.,

I'm a stay at home mom too with a 16 month old son. I left my profession to be with my son and I don't regret it for a second! I also have the challenge of trying to take care of everything myself and most of my mom friends at least have a housekeeper. I don't live in the valley, but I live in West Hollywood so I'm not too far from you. I also used to live in SF. You may contact me if you'd like to chat or meet. I don't have a special group that I'm involved with that is only composed of moms like us, but I have my son involved in a lot of activities.

St. John Eudes Catholic Church has a moms group that meets on Thursday mornings 10-Noon with free babysitting. We have about 10 moms in a given week talking about our concerns, hosting speakers, reading a book and exploring our inner lives. This week in the big hall we have a local MFT Bonnie Geary speaking on power struggles - "who's running the show at your house" is the title. A lot of friends of friends are coming and we're hoping for a larger crowd. Please join us - free childcare - and check it out. We're pretty ordinary moms - most of us don't have household help - all of us have our feet on the ground running like crazy! If you want to ask questions call me at ###-###-#### - I'm the coordinator, K..

I'll tell you something, all of us have challanges, just sounds like you're more willing to be honest about it. I'm a full time working (my choice)mom. Part of the reason that I chose to work was that I felt that I'd lose my sense of identity, and that while I was (am)crazy about my kids, I needed adult interaction. Maybe you can arrange a night, or babysitter on a regular basis so that you can do something that makes you feel more like you're involved in an community that interests you.

Perhaps you should be looking to get involved with a group that is not kid centered, art, tree people, etc. For sure, you'll find other people with small kids there. Being from SF, if you're not sure how to locate them, email me and I'll give you some help. Good luck.

Bel Air Presbyterian Church runs a great mom's group. I think you will find what you're looking for.

I was that mom 14 years ago. I am now a full-time teacher and mother to an 11 year old girl and a 14 year old boy. My needs have changed to finding a group of divorced, single moms with similar aged children. We missed each other by a decade plus. I found a lot of nonworking moms in a similar economical situation at my synagogue. Sometimes religious institutions offer great mommy and me classes. Good luck to both of us in finding the comraderie we both desire. EC

Hi! We have a wonderful group at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, www.belairpres.org, we have a group called Mothers and Others, we meet on Wednesday from 10-12... Come!

Hello R.,
I too am a SAHM in the valley. (West Hills) I have a 1 year old baby girl. I am 36 years old and watch my niece and nephew a few days a week. Which leaves my other days open for fun! (other then house work and taking care of my daughter)
Let me know if you ever want to get together for a play date. I know they are close to a year apart, but I'm sure they would still have fun together. (do you have a boy or girl?) I haven't joined any playgroups just because I dedicate a lot of my time to taking care of my niece and nephew. So this looks like a great opportunity for Alexandra to find a new friend. (and me too!)
So feel free to email me any time to talk.
____@____.com
Take care!

LaLeche League is a real stay at home not that many nannies vibe. Have you checked out Mothers HAven in Encino? Where else have you looked?

Just be yourself and be glad you can live your own life.
Read a lot of books, go to the library, and be your own person.
I'd be your friend, but I live too far away.
You won't regret running your own life.
Good luck,
B.