They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I have absolutely found that to be true.
My journey to motherhood started with a loss followed by a pandemic pregnancy in a town where I had no support system other than my husband. My family is incredible, but they were three hours away at the time, and I needed so much more support than my husband and our little town were able to offer. I was a wreck in every sense of the word. I was grieving the loss of my daughter while also trying to be positive and celebrate my second pregnancy. I cried a lot. I had high anxiety. (And probably quite a few undiagnosed things, if I am being honest). I had a high-risk pregnancy. My husband was in law enforcement. And of course, my family was three hours away.
For the first year of my son’s life, I was away from family and friends.
I lived in a place that wasn’t particularly welcoming, and I felt isolated. I needed a mom group. I needed grief resources. And I needed friends for myself and for my baby. Those things felt out of reach and unattainable for me at the time.
My village was not physically close to me, but I craved a village. I wanted to connect with people who were in the same season of motherhood. I wanted a coffee playdate. I wanted to move my body, but I wanted my baby to be with me. I wanted to learn to grieve one baby while celebrating another. Over time, I pieced this together. I moved home, and I got my village back. But it was a process.
What if I told you that many of the resources I needed were available to you all in one place?
Look no further than The Village Motherhood Company, a group of women who are ready to be your village from your prenatal stage and beyond. The Village Motherhood is a specially curated and vibrant space where mothers can connect, share experiences, and find support. You can meet like-minded moms, build friendships, and attend classes and events.
The Village Motherhood offers support and guidance from doulas, lactation consultants, sleep trainers, and more. They can provide childcare during your visit, allowing you to focus your attention on one thing. They care about you and your well-being, as well as that of your child.
After I had my babies, I was terrified of fitness to the point where I did not make it a priority. (My youngest is almost two, and this is still a struggle for me.) I have had three c-sections, and recovery on all three was HARD. (Yet, I still want a fourth.) When it comes to fitness, I had no idea where to start. The Village Motherhood Company has an answer to all of that. They have prenatal and postpartum fitness classes, and even some that are baby-friendly. Their classes range from yoga to Zumba to strength. Even better? They are all provided in one location.
Another area I struggled with before having babies was knowing what classes I needed to take.
I wanted to feel empowered, knowledgeable, and in charge of my pregnancy and postpartum, but I did not want to pay for a bunch of classes I would never use. The Village Motherhood has curated classes to meet you where you are in your motherhood journey. They offer everything from birthing classes to newborn classes and beyond. My boys are five and two, and you bet I am going to sign up for a CPR, Choking, and AED class. I can’t be the only one whose children try to swallow everything, right?
I know it sounds amazing, but I haven’t even gotten to my favorite part.
The Village Motherhood offers Mom Groups. Safe spaces to connect with other moms. Moms who can help you and support you when the exhaustion and overwhelm hit, but who will also be there to celebrate the milestones, giggles, and mom wins. Come as you are, and leave finding support, encouragement, and a village.
What I needed the most in my motherhood journey, though, was a place to support my grief.
Most days, I still need this. Grief does not have a roadmap, and it is not linear. Finding support, people who know what you are going through, who can hold you when you are crying, and walk the lonely road of loss with you . . . that is priceless. The Village Motherhood has this, too. I hope you never need this. I pray you never find yourself in that kind of pain. This is a resource that is so needed, so appreciated, and one that I was so happy to find in Albuquerque.
Cafe & Retail Space
This isn’t even all that is offered. Feeling exhausted and needing a moment of rest? They have a nap nook. Need to grab a thoughtful gift for that baby shower or birthday party? There is a beautiful store. Do you need a caffeine boost and 30 minutes of childcare so you can finish up some work? There is a cafe for you and your mini. Yes, even this menu is very thoughtfully crafted.
Sounds incredible, right?
The Village Motherhood truly has it all. You can stop by anytime, grab a coffee, and shop. You can check out their class and group schedules and use any of the amazing resources available. If you feel like you truly have found your village, you can even sign up for a membership, which provides discounts on classes, cafe, retail, unlimited mom group drop-ins, and so much more.
If you are a mom-to-be, a new mom, or a toddler mom, this is your place, these are your people, and this is your village.
Learn more on The Village Motherhood’s website. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
