HAMILTON-WENHAM MOTHER'S CLUB

Buckle up, it’s going to be a long one. You may not be aware of the ins and outs of how the newsletter works, but this is Catherine writing these opening co president letters and as I’m rolling off the presidency this month and handing this duty over to Cameron next year, I want to go rogue and subject my captive audience to a treatise on community and connection.

I’m assuming everyone else can feel it too, that something extra special about the North Shore. I’m sure it exists elsewhere too, but we seem to have this bond that draws you in and asks you to stay a while. Of course it’s helped by the gorgeous views, the beaches, the balance of being close to the city but also far enough away, but there is something else, and I think that “something” is the community which has been created here. I say created because it doesn’t just exist, it takes work. 

Our towns have so many offerings which create many of those “third places” – not work/school, and not home, but someplace you can go to connect with others while being yourself, and I think this connection builds the web that then fosters this sense of community. Once kids get older, parents can form bonds in those third places that exist around sports or other extracurriculars, but how does one create community while in the trenches of raising babies and toddlers? There is barely space to be yourself, let alone connect others.

This is what I love about the Mothers’ Club. I think of our mission as offering up points of contact and connection. We are doing the mental load of planning and coordinating so our members can just show up, however they may be that day; hair not combed? shirt stained? leaking milk? who cares, just come. And this is the hardest part, showing up. I’ve been there, you can think of a million reasons not to go somewhere. Getting out the door is a huge hurdle, you may not know anyone, or maybe you couldn’t string two words together if you tried. It is so hard, but I promise you, if you show up, we’ll take care of the rest.

And now a thank you to the ones who make it possible, the HWMC Board. We all come from different walks of life, we have different numbers of kids, different personal and professional workloads to balance, and with all that going on, they offered to put a little more on their plate to help foster connection and build a community. Sometimes board members go through the ebbs and flows of life and have trouble managing it all, and the way other board members step up to help execute and support is the foundation of the community we are working to create. I’m impressed by these women daily, so to these 26 amazing women: thank you thank you.

I’ll leave with a challenge to each of you (as if life doesn’t ask enough of us, but humor me). Next year say yes - to a baby group walk, toddler meet up, book club discussion, MNO or wellness event, children’s or family events, community outreach drive or signing up to bring a mom a meal - a yes to one thing, and see where it takes you. We are all better for it, and it helps create the community we want our children to experience. 

If you were wondering, yes, I am the cheesiest of all, but I really do love where I live and I’m so grateful to the HWMC for making this corner of the universe a little bit brighter.