Lonely moms turn to Internet
Everyone knows parenting young children can be isolating, especially for moms who stay at home full-time. A new survey on how moms use the Internet, released by Gather and Mom Central Consulting, show us just how lonely motherhood can be and a new way to cope with that isolation.
The survey results show that 4 in 5 moms “do not have enough friends”, 60% have been lonely in the last month, and 40% do not have a best friend.
Respondents report feeling most lonely when their children are under the age of five and again when parenting teens (14-18yrs).
Interestingly, more than 60% of moms reported making a new friend online in the past year. More than a third - 34% - have turned an online friendship into a lasting offline one.
How important are online friendships in your life? Have you been able to take an online friendship, offline?
I think social networking sites, like Facebook, have made me feel much more connected to friends and family I don’t get to see or talk to frequently. I think it would certainly ease the new parenthood transition. But, one of the best ways to make new mommy friends is to sign up for mom-and-me classes, either through the school district’s early childhood education program or through private classes. See who your child plays nicely with and invite the mom and kid over for a playdate. I’ve made lasting friendships with other moms that way.
Aisha covered education and breaking news for nearly ten years before joining the Lifestyle staff where she writes a "Dirty Laundry" parenting column. She is the home and family editor and wastes too much time on Facebook and political blogs. 
Western Woman rather than seeking advice from the same people like Dr. Oz and Oprah that cast you in to your dilemma, you should read this article:
AMERICA, —A NATION OF SAD, SUICIDAL, DEPRESSED, FITFUL, LONELY DESPONDENT WOMEN
http://www.luckinlove.com/savethegirls.htm
Hello Again Western Woman:
I did read the article but enjoyed the responses the most. You are lonely because even though you are fulfilling your traditional role, ugly, corrosive, feminism is still reeling its ugly head in your life through Dr. Oz and Oprah. Dr. Oz is the upwardly mobile, wealthy, good looking male that you were told you deserved. This now makes you angry and hostile towards the man you did marry. “Why did I settle for an average man who is loyal and loves me when I could have maybe had the alpha-male that does beat me and cheat on me? Why can’t my man be on TeeVee, instead of working 12 hour shifts at the factory to pay our bills?………” The list goes on and on, corroding the image of the man that you married. Making you hate and distrust his loyalty and dedication to you and your home life. Whispering in your ear that he has cheated you of all the shiny beeping gadgets that you deserve, until one day you divorce him and take all that he ever had and all that he ever will as what the unequal justice system has told you deserve as restitution and a fitting punishment for him for not being the upwardly mobile wealthy male.
You are lonely because you have made your bed with ugly corrosive feminism and are now forced to lie in it.
Aisha,
I’ve made a lot of friends online.
First, seeking a support group for a rare disorder, then meeting other professionals in my industry that I really connected with… only recently connecting with family online, but, I’m liking being able to keep up with them and them with me.
Most of my online friendships have been cemented in person. One friendship even resulted in marriage for me (and a few other friends).
It was nice when I was a single Mom, I couldn’t go out, but, I could answer emails and participate in newsgroups after my little one went to bed. Otherwise, I’d have been totally disconnected for a couple of years there.
Alas, I guess I should weep for all the lonely, overindulged suburban queens whose lives are a ruinous mix of arm flab, spoiled children and less-than-desirable, middle-aged hubbies with big bellies and low libidos! Here is a little theory that needs testing: What say you all to the assumption that if your on Facebook with a decades old picture of just yourself, you are looking for at least the chance of a mid-day tryst with just the right taker! All that crap about needing friends is a ruse - these gals want a new daddy - at least one who is discreet and likewise trapped - so things don’t get too messy!
Garth, well I don’t think you have to worry about any of us stay at home moms coming after you! Nice attitude! Best thing I did was join a play group when my son was 2. We got together once a week for a couple of years. Now that our kids are in school, we still try to get them together on holidays, but more importantly, the moms still get together on a semi regular basis. Add to that the fact that I’ve made lots of new friends through my kids’ school and socially at least, I feel pretty good.
I’ve had online friends for many years. People who I’ll probably never meet in person. I had one very close friend for years. We would talk on the phone, but we were never able to get together in person. She died not too long ago, and I am just as saddened as if she lived down the street. Even my daughter has made friends that she has ‘talked’ to online for years. I value those friendships as much as my ‘real world’ friendships.
I think the difference for me is that the friends I’ve made have been people who are on my list, and visit my blog - not random people in a social network. In my duaghter’s case, she was active in forums about a topic she was interested in and made friends that way. I’ve yet to make a single real friend on twitter or facebook.
I looked to the internet for information when I was pregnant with my first child; most of my close friends did not have children. I “met” a group of about 25 other working mothers who are close friends six years and a second child later. Several of us have met in person and talk by phone regularly. It’s always an adventure to see who we can meet while on a business trip.
I wouldn’t classify us as lonely women. We were women who were going through the same challenges at the same time and happened to meet through the internet.
But I thought the anti-feminists believe that women are only TRULY happy with children and a standard suburban home life? That, after all, is their goal–to keep women pregnant and in the kitchen. So why aren’t the women who bought it hook, line, and sinker so very happy?
Women often don’t marry because they’re deeply in love and are planning a life with a true soulmate. According to women I know (direct quotes), they married “Because I thought no one else would ask me.” “He had a good job and I knew he would make a good father even though I wasn’t really turned on by him.” “I wanted the whole thing, the big house, the kids . . . ” “Because that’s what everyone else I knew was doing.” “Because I wanted kids.”
Oh, yeah, THERE’S a recipe for complete life happiness!