The Rocklin Placer Herald

Stay-at-home moms support each other

By: Keith Reid, The Placer Herald
Tuesday, May 3, 2005

The face made by 15-month-old Malia Damacion after touching 3-month-old Tyler Eastburn elicits laughter from Erica Damacion of Rocklin, right, and Jasmine Eastburn. Photo by Karina Williams/The Placer Herald

It can truly be mind-numbing work.

Constant feeding, cleaning, nap times, tantrums and chasing after an oh-so-curious and quick-footed infant or toddler is a 24-hour-a-day job. It can often be enough to send a stay-at-home mom to the brink of insanity.

For a Rocklin group of stay-at-home moms, however, the stress is lessened by a weekly Mommy Meetup group, which was organized on the popular Web site www.meetup.com.

Hosted at Jenny Dalberg's Rocklin home every Thursday, the stay-at-home Mommy Meetup group has been going strong since February.

"We have moms who bring their kids ages 2 months to 5 years old," said Dalberg, mother of 4-year-old Greyson and 15-month-old Parker. "I keep an open-door policy. The meeting starts at 10 a.m., and members come and go as they please until well in the afternoon."

Dalberg said the moms find relief in being able to talk with adults, specifically ones who can identify with some of the different issues, frustrations and fun aspects of being a stay-at-home mom.

The group's Web site, http://sahm.meetup.com/510/, shows 37 members. Nationwide, there are more than 900 stay-at-home mom meetup groups, according to www.meetup.com.

Thursday, about 17 moms and children attended the meeting - transforming Dalberg's house into quite a rowdy scene, but enjoyable for all involved.

Nancy Barker of Antelope joined the group for the first time with her 10-month-old daughter Gabrielle on Thursday. Barker said she was thrilled to be able to take Gabrielle out of the house to an already baby-proofed place.

"I was supposed to come with a friend," Barker said. "But, her (child) became sick, and I just decided to come alone. It's not easy to find moms to relate to. It's not like you just see somebody with a child and say, 'Hey, want to hang out?'"

Barker was also relieved to be in an environment where if a baby cries or throws a tantrum, the result isn't dirty looks or annoyed patrons of public facilities.

"We've all been there. If one of the kids throws a tantrum, it's no big deal," she said.

Mommy Meetup is not just for motherly support, either - it's an opportunity for the children to enjoy each other's company as well.

"It's a good way to let the kids interact with each other and introduce that socialization," said Erica Damacioa of Rocklin, who brings her 15-month-old daughter Malia to the group. "Malia is one of the only girls. I guess it's getting her used to the boys."

Four-year-old Isaiah Del Castillo visited the group with his mom Carmen for the first time Thursday as well. He shyly whispered in his mom's ear why he had so much fun.

"He said he likes sharing and making sure the smaller kids get to play too," Del Castillo said.

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