Mocha Moms, Inc.

Atlanta-area chapters: 11
Annual dues: $40; founded in 1997
www.mochamoms.org

“We are a support group for stay-at-home moms, but many of our members work full-time or have home-based businesses,” says Shenia Kirkland, president of the Metro Atlanta Mocha Moms chapter. “We support moms in the choices they make, whatever the case is.” Mocha Moms caters to mothers of color and provides an array of activities during the day and in the evenings. While members – there are more than 100 in Kirkland’s chapter – do not have to live within Atlanta city limits to join this chapter, most of their activities are held in the heart of the city. Kirkland, who was a corporate attorney before staying home with her 2½-year-old daughter, says that Mocha Moms’ chapters focus on community service, as well as offer a monthly moms’ night out, twice monthly support groups during the day, along with couples’ events and marriage enrichment opportunities. “Our goal is family preservation,” Kirkland says. Many Mocha families have been helped by resources from other members about marriage, whether it’s a referral to a counselor or helping to pay for a couple’s marriage seminar, she adds. Kirkland, who is expecting her second child in April, says she’s looking forward to the extra support when the baby arrives. Atlanta Mocha Moms work together to provide a “food brigade” with six weeks of meals for the family, as well as helping with laundry or childcare for older siblings.

International MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club

Atlanta-area chapters: 50
Annual dues: range from $12-$25, depending on chapter; founded in 1983
www.momsclub.org

“MOMS Club is about providing support during the day when women feel the most isolated,” says Allie Roberts, Southeast regional coordinator for the organization. MOMS Club is primarily for stay-at-home moms, but working moms, non-moms and even dads can join, she adds. MOMS Club activities are held with kids, and although chapters offer a monthly moms’ night out, kids are still welcome. “It’s about providing support, and those who can’t find a sitter, particularly if their spouse travels, still need support,” says Roberts. “We are primarily a social support group, but we also do service projects each year that benefit children and families.” Monthly meetings are a social outlet, but usually include a speaker or discussion group touching on diverse parenting topics, she adds. Many moms join MOMS Club for playgroups, says Roberts, but each chapter offers a variety of activities such as moms’ night out and other activity groups like a recipe club. “Each chapter has the flexibility to be what their members want the chapter to be,” she says. “If a mom needs support, they [chapter members] make it happen.”

Mothers & More

Atlanta-area chapters: 5
Annual dues: $45; founded in 1987
www.mothersandmore.org

“A lot of moms groups are more about the kids. Mothers & More is definitely a group about nurturing the mom,” says Sheila Elwin, regional manager for the organization. “We share with each other, and it’s about caring for our roles as a mom, spouse or working woman.” Activities vary among chapters in the Atlanta region, but all offer a monthly (or twice monthly) chapter meeting, moms’ night out, playgroups, as well as family and couples’ activities, and events for the kids. Smaller groups within the chapters include specific groups like book club, hobby club, cooking club and movie club. With the exception of playgroups and children’s activities, all of Mothers & More activities are held in the evenings without children. “It’s about moms making friends and having support,” says Elwin. “Having the kids connect is just a nice byproduct.” Elwin joined the DeKalb chapter to enrich her child, but quickly capitalized on the opportunity to meet other members for coffee when her child goes to preschool. “It’s about moms who take care of themselves,” she says. “The group is what you make of it.” She also learned that the organization’s 36 national online e-mail loops – like the toddler loop and homeschooling loop – are a great resource. “I actually got some great parenting advice from another mother across the country, and now I take one night off each week, just for me,” she adds.

Mothers of Multiples Inc.

Atlanta-area chapters: 7
Annual dues vary by chapter; founded in 1960
www.gomomc.org

Mothers of multiples face unique challenges, and seven area chapters serve to provide support to these families. “I think support changes over time,” says Jennifer Howe, president of the Cobb Parent of Multiples chapter. “When I was pregnant, I joined for the consignment sale. When the twins were born, it was more for support and to pull advice from others on eating and sleeping. Now I like to give back to other moms. I want to give back to them what I was given,” Howe says. Membership in the Cobb Parent of Multiples chapter, which ranges from 165-200 members per year, is a family membership with special events offered throughout the year for all members of the family. Monthly meetings and moms’ night out are held in the evenings without children, while play dates are offered during the day. Howe says one of the biggest draws to the organization is the ability to participate and shop at the chapter’s consignment sale. “Parents of multiples are in a unique situation,” says Howe. “Many parents are well-meaning, but if you don’t have multiples you may not understand what it is like.” Howe says the chapter is open to parents who live in Cobb or any surrounding counties and who have any number of multiples. The Cobb chapter has one set of quads.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS Inc.)

Atlanta-area chapters: 55
Annual dues: $20, plus additional chapter fees; founded 1973
www.mops.org

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is a worldwide Christian-based ministry that provides support and fellowship for moms of children from newborns to kindergarteners. MOPS chapters meet once or twice each month, with a speaker or discussion groups centered on topics relevant to moms of young children, says Jackie Alvarez at MOPS Inc. headquarters in Colorado. Meetings typically center around a meal, and the children are provided care in another room during the presentations and discussions. “The organization focuses on the mom with young children, so MOPS is well resourced in the early mothering years,” Alvarez adds. MOPS is open to any mother, including teen moms and single mothers, and strives to provide a caring environment where moms can build friendships, find support and gain practical parenting strategies. “MOPS focuses on the mom as a woman. We want them to have their own passions and goals outside of being a mom,” Alvarez adds.

AtlantaAreaMommies

Free to join; 4 geographic chapters
www.atlantaareamommies.com

AtlantaAreaMommies is a hybrid online support group, says Wendy Attmore, promotion manager for the site. “About 50 percent is virtual, while the other 50 percent is spent face-to-face with other members,” she says. There are four groups based on specific geographic areas of Atlanta, which make meeting and finding resources nearby easier, she says. The group boasts about 720 members. Attmore, who lives in Alpharetta, joined before moving to Atlanta two years ago when her child was a baby. “It’s low investment, there are no strings attached, and it’s just about support and friendship,” she says. Attmore finds that online resources are incredibly accessible, whether a mom is up nursing in the middle of the night or just needs to take a break during the day. “It is a place to gather without schlepping the kids to the park. But when you want to get out, you can.” AtlantaAreaMommies offers a calendar of outings, as well as discussion groups on major parenting topics where moms get advice from other moms. The online site offers sections divided by age of the child, as well as interests of the mother, like natural living (as attached parenting) or domestic goddess (recipes/cooking). “We mix online and with events to gain support and friendship,” says Attmore. “AtlantaAreaMommies is like a water cooler for moms.”