MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Playgroups and mom tribes are equally important
‘It’s essential! My mom tribe is my sanity, my sanctuary, my silly, my safe. Motherhood isn’t always easy and it helps to know you don’t have to do it alone. For the kids, socialization is so important for their development.’
Prior to the birthday party, Amanda Griffin-Jacob posted a charming video of their youngest child, Kyle Antony. Produced by Ducks & Drakes, the video production company brainstormed with Amanda on creating this delightful first birthday video.
First on the agenda was conceptualizing the different scenes and outfits of Kyle. To add to the fun, Amanda thought it would be nice to include the babies from their playgroup called The Baby Bunch. “They’re his buddies, so I thought it would be cute to have them in it… with cake haha…”
WHY A PLAYGROUP?
Amanda revealed that, with her firstborn 10 years ago, she was part of a baby group with moms who had babies of the same age. That group played a big role in her formative years as a mother. They were there to support and guide her, with some becoming her best friends today.
She admitted that she didn’t really invest time for the next two children to join playgroups. The three siblings have already formed a special bond that didn’t need the help of playgroups. “But with Kyle, I made a concerted effort to commit to a baby group, most especially since none of my friends were pregnant, except for one. I love Kyle’s playgroup, because they’re mostly first-time mamas, and it’s refreshing to hear the perspectives and strategies from them,” explained Amanda.
MY MOM TRIBE
Most of the time, friendships are formed and strengthened unexpectedly. It’s a pleasant surprise, especially for moms who need a support group to lean on to. “I think it really started with
Patti (Grandige-Herrera). Funny enough, Patti and I didn’t really know each other before our babies, but we connected and bonded online since we were due at the same time,” recounted Amanda. Other moms who are part of the group are Tricia Centenera (whose partner Duane is one of Amanda’s husband David’s best friends), Jess Tan Gan, Vanessa Matsunaga-Sunga, Cristalle BeloPitt, and Prasana Lee.
Despite being a mom-of-four backed with tons of experiences, Amanda still believes everyone needs a support group. “It’s essential! My mom tribe is my sanity, my sanctuary, my silly, my safe. Motherhood isn’t always easy and it helps to know you don’t have to do it alone. For the kids, socialization is so important for their development.”