New mother and toddler group aiming to combat parental loneliness launches in Wrexham

A new mother and toddler group that aims to combat parental loneliness will meet tomorrow for the first time.

Mombies, a non-profit organisation that is run by volunteers, is inviting parents to come and join them to learn more and to meet new people.

The group has been created by Ruth Marshall, who is currently expecting her fifth baby, in a bid to combat parental loneliness and share knowledge.

Tomorrow (Thursday 22nd August) will see the first group session take place at Costa Coffee on Island Green and organisers hope it will help bring parents together and increase people’s confidence.

Explaining why she decided to set up the group, Ruth said she knows from experience the battle parents can face with isolation and loneliness.

“I’ve been a mum since I was 16 years old back in 1997,” said Ruth.

“I have sat in the corner at playgroups not knowing what to say or if I would be accepted, all the time battling the isolation and loneliness that comes with parenthood.

“I’m not one to dwell on the difficulties of the past – nor the recent past – but I am someone who believes that everything happens for a reason and if we learn and share, we have the ability to help not only ourselves but to also inspire and support others.”

Ruth graduated with a degree in youth and community studies back in 2012, but stated that she had “let the skills lie dormant” over the past few years.

She returned to university to study for her PGCE when her fourth baby was nine months old and when she was still breastfeeding.

“Weeks before the end of the course, I discovered I was pregnant again with baby number five and so had to put my career choices on hold while I concentrate on the pending arrival of my newest addition,” she continued.

“Starting a mother and toddler group was the perfect way for me to put both my PGCE and youth and community degree to use to help people in my community, while also keeping myself in the world of work that doesn’t discriminate against me while pregnant and allows me to literally take my toddler to work with me.”

Mombies aims to incorporate community based learning and promote social development for both parents and their little ones.

Ruth explained: “Using both formal and informal methods, programmes and activities are developed in dialogue with the parents to increase their confidence and ability to participate in communities and relationships.

“Each week will cover a topic or theme to get mums talking, my role will be to guide and initiate the discussions to ensure everyone can join in and share their knowledge and experience.

“Mombies also plans to have guest speakers to come along to inform and inspire us while also creating community bonds with other groups, businesses and professionals.”

She added: “For our littlest members we are starting out with a handful of toys and play mats that have been donated to us.

“We will sing and sign songs and read stories in both Welsh and English. Our little ones will develop social skills and have the opportunity to make friends and play – most importantly the secret to a happy child is a happy, healthy Mombie.

“Mombies will be the play group where no one is left sitting in the corner.”

Mombies is a non-profit organisation that is run by volunteers, and gladly accepts donations of toys, products and books that it can review.

If you or your organisation would like to come along and speak for at Mombies session / find out more about getting involved email
[email protected], tweet @mombieswxm or find them on Facebook.

Mombies runs every Thursday 10am-12pm at Costa, Island Green in Wrexham.