Three Ways to Identify Support People in Motherhood

Motherhood is not something that we should be doing alone. It takes more than one person to raise a child, not only for their benefit but for yours as well. Sometimes things like distance between relatives and friends can make it difficult to have reliable support people in your life. That’s when it’s time to find new people who can be a part of your support system. You might be wondering what kinds of people are best suited for this important role. Here are three ways to identify people around you who could be a part of your support system.

Find People with Similar Hobbies to Yours 

If someone shares the same interests as you there’s a high chance that you’re going to get along as friends. Having a strong connection to something like exercise, crafting, or traveling can help build a lasting foundation for a relationship with someone. By being able to talk openly about a common interest, it can easily lead to feeling comfortable chatting about other aspects of life as well. Plus, by already having common interests, you already know and can participate in events and activities together. 

Find People with Similar Values to Yours

This one is really important because you want to be sure you’re on the same page with your support person when it comes to who you are and what you value at your core. Although differences can be overcome and even celebrated in friendships and relationships, it’s harder to bridge the gap when someone else has many opposing values. As you get to know someone, consider what their values are and if they align with yours. You can still be friendly with these people, but maybe they aren’t a part of your inner circle of connection. Look for people who think and feel the same way you do about your most important values.

Find People in the Same Stage of Life as You 

One way to truly feel supported is to find people who are experiencing the same or similar things as you. It can be hard to relate to someone in motherhood, for example, if they have toddlers and you have teenagers. Similarly, if you’re looking for support on weekdays as a stay at home mom, asking your friend who is a full-time working mom might not always be the most supportive person for the job. Again, it’s good and important to have varying relationships with lots of different people, but finding those who can truly relate to you where you are in life is invaluable. You’ll be able to build deeper relationships and connections with those people.

Of course every person and relationship is different and you have to do what feels best for you. If you’re looking for more ways to connect with others or start growing your support system, check out our workbook “A Mom’s Guide to Building Connection” for more tips and resources on how to create lasting and meaningful relationships with others.