Losing Friends As A Mom? You're Not Alone

Motherhood is often portrayed as a time of joy and fulfillment,  but we rarely talk about the unexpected loneliness that can come with it–especially when it comes to friendships.

New moms frequently share how their relationships with friends have changed. Some have drifted apart from friends, while others find it hard to connect or relate due to the different demands of motherhood.

One mom from the Smart Parenting Village said: “They [her friends] unfollowed me sobrang na left out talaga ako… People come and go. Pero marami naman ako ngayon nakikala na co mommies and turns into friends/family.”

Mommy Cristina Francisco also reflected: "Some old friends stayed; some moved on. But along the way, I've met new friends."

While some friendships may fade or even end, there are ways to build new connections. Being part of a community can be a lifeline for moms seeking support and understanding.

Communities That Help Moms Build New Friendships

Smart Parenting Village

“Yung mga friends ko, nung dalaga days pa simula naging nanay ako, halos bihira o hindi ko na nakikita or nakakausap ng personal… Until may mga nasalihan akong mga group na nakakaintindi sa sitwasyon ko as a mom, especially Smart Parenting Village, sobrang helpful,” Mommy Sarah Jane Ramos Felicia said.

The Smart Parenting Village is a community of over 100,000 parents sharing advice, tips, concerns, recommendations, and encouragement. It’s also connected to Summit Media's Smart Parenting site, where experts and writers have become a massive source of valuable content for parents. Smart Parenting also regularly publishes well-researched articles about family life, parenting, money, health, pregnancy, and even shopping recommendations.

Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) 

Mommy Ayeen Valdezco-Regalado shared how she once felt hurt when she couldn't see her old friends anymore: “There was even a time when I'd feel hurt when I see my old friends seeing each other, and I couldn't be there due to proximity since I moved to Metro Manila when I had my own family. But God made me realize there is a season for everything, even in friendships. Some people we meet will be with us only for a specific season in our lives. What we can do is trust that God will place new people in our lives, who hopefully will stick with us until we're old, and I found those people through our church (CCF). By joining and forming discipleship groups, I met new people I now consider not just friends but spiritual family."

Other faith-based and religious communities have also been of great help to moms. Nurturing our spirituality can help each parent find a safe space for faith, healing, and personal growth.

Modern Mommy Parenting Community 

Mommy Keiko Tsukiyono-Molina was the first one among her friends to get married, have kids, and get divorced. Her old friends couldn't relate to her experience as a single mom, and they didn't even know how to approach her. When one of her officemates invited her to a Facebook group, she found her tribe and a new set of friends.

“From online to real friends to advocacy, I have my mom's tribe to back me up, whichever part of my life I am. My old friends have become tribe members too… I attended mommy meetups and started having friends. From there, someone invited me to other groups because I was interested in babywearing. I attended Sling Meets to learn more about babywearing, and that's how I became friends with some of the parents there. Then I also started watching Mommy vloggers and learned about Mommy Pehpot Pineda. So, I joined her group, Modern Mommy Parenting Community. She also began inviting moms to make content, which boosted my confidence as a mom. Some of the moms from the other groups I have mentioned have also started their own vlogging journey,” Keiko shared.

The Momtivation PH 

Mommy Kenzie Barrera Viray shared: "I actually drifted away from my college friends. They used to invite me after I gave birth to my first child, then I just realized that they stopped inviting me after a few months. Probably because they know the answer naman, that I can't go. But still, it would've been nice to be invited para I felt included and wanted pa din.I was able to cope with loneliness when I was pregnant with my 3rd child."

She said that discovering a new mom group focused on breastfeeding and pumping became her source of making new friends: “This group shifted to a general mom group… I started out as a member, but since I responded actively to posts and comments, I became an admin. I am a content creator, so the experience I gained from getting brand sponsorships was also brought to the group. We had monthly online activities to engage other moms and boost their morale, especially during the pandemic. We also created a group chat, which is very active at present; we talk to our online mom friends as if we are talking to our real-life friends.”

She also mentioned that her old friends are still single. She accepted that they now belong to a different season, but it is helpful to surround yourself with people who can relate to you; in her case, these fellow online momma friends were more relatable to her.

The VT Momma Club

"I was able to build my mom confidence from them. I strongly stand with them. Lalo na halos lahat nag bago na from your priorities, appearance, mindset and availability. I no longer had a time if not kids-friendly pupuntahan or gabi na yung meet up… So I'm very grateful for the moms who I met online," Mommy Angela Perez said. 

She first encountered the VT Momma Club as she became a member of their ambassador of moms who advocates breastfeeding. VT Momma Club is a group organized by Valianne’s Trends, a shop that sells breastfeeding needs and it’s exclusive for newly pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Since then, Mommy Angela has attended their mom's photoshoots, meetups, and bazaars. It was the beginning of her new social life because she met people in the same phase as hers.

Bagong Nanay

Mommy Jo-an Liwanag found Bagong Nanay in the middle of the pandemic. As a community of moms in an intimate group, they shared their small to big wins as mothers. "[We share our children's] milestones or even horror stories on feeding times, behavior and even their silly moments. Judy Aladin, the founder of Bagong Nanay and Smart Parenting section editor, has been my constant since then and even up to now," she said.

The Nest Attachment Parenting

Mommy Jo-an also found The Nest Attachment Parenting a helpful community. "It has been our go-to shop for emergencies during the pandemic. Since we can have our basic baby needs shipped out immediately, even during the wee hours. It was also our ‘budol’ store wherein we can't really resist for their new drops of toys, baby gears and even new baby items. Tiffany has been very kind and accommodating to everyone. We also talked about anything and everything under the sun. They even helped me find an ambulance for my dad during that time so we could rush him to the hospital during COVID-19 times," she narrated.

Mindful Mompreneurs Club

It is a community of mompreneurs who want to thrive in both raising babies and businesses. Mommy Liz Nolasco, an active member of the community, shared, "Aside from God's grace and my husband's support, it was definitely a big help to be in a community like MMC that keeps me inspired and reminds me of the joy and struggles of being a mompreneur."

The club holds learning sessions for mompreneurs and community gatherings where they get to share their wins, struggles, progress, and plans. They are also accountable to each other.

While it’s often said that “it takes a village to raise a child,” it also takes a village to support a mom. Thanks to social media, moms today can find support, build friendships, and feel connected. Whether you’re a working mom, a mompreneur, or a full-time mom, these communities offer support, advice, and inspiration to help you thrive in every phase of motherhood.

Read here to learn why every mom needs her own tribe.