Newspaper Page Text
COMMUNITY
Support & Humor
New club supports moms through the early years of parenting
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By Clare S. Richie
The early years of motherhood are
challenging and, at times, isolating. To
foster community, a new “mothers club”
offers in-person activities and a virtual
platform to moms from pregnancy through
their child’s preschool years.
Launched this summer, MESH Moms
(Mothers Empowered With Support &
Humor) is a membership-based club that
connects moms to age-based, interest-based,
and location-based peer groups.
“We are open to different parenting
philosophies,” said co-founder Martina
Stellmaszek. “We want to be a resource
where you meet other moms, get advice,
and find the people you click with.”
“A lot of women are lost in the universe
of too much information and anonymous
online groups,” added co-founder Juliana
Caspari. “We make it easy for moms to
filter out what they need.”
The annual membership ($120)
includes weekly playgroups, educational
6 | DECEMBER 2023
opportunities, adult-only social gatherings,
access to a private online portal with a
marketplace, childcare forum, chat groups,
and more. Some special events require a fee.
“It can be really lonely when you
are taking care of a newborn,” said
Celeste Nagy whose son was born in late
September. “MESH Moms offers something
for everyone. It’s a really inclusive,
judgment-free environment for advice and
asking questions. I just did a lunchtime
seminar about traveling with kids. They
had recommendations, products, links, and
feedback that things are never going to go as
planned.”
MESH Moms is the brainchild of
friends and former executives Stellmaszek
and Caspari, mothers to a combined seven
children. Stellmaszek came up with the idea
after her youngest was born in California,
where she lived temporarily during the
pandemic. She joined a moms group there,
a concept that she “just didn’t know from
the South.”
“Even though my California baby was
my fourth, every day I learned something
new from being connected to these amazing
women,” Stellmaszek recalled.
Back in Atlanta, she called Caspari and
said we need to build a network like this for
Atlanta. Caspari, who had struggled with
isolation when her children were young,
was “all in.”
“Juliana and Martina are so organized,”
said Brindusa Jimenez who is “new-ish”
to Atlanta and mom to a 22-month-old
daughter. “For the pumpkin fest, we bought
tickets through MESH moms and they had
a meet-up spot, reserved tables, coffee, and
donuts. Once there, I was meeting all of
these moms I’ve been chatting with in the
member WhatsApp group — stay-at-home
moms, working moms, and co-parenting
moms like myself.”
Upcoming December events include
a virtual coaching session on how to deal
with unsolicited advice (Dec. 6); the bi
weekly Waddle & Stroller Walk (Dec. 12) at
Piedmont Park and the monthly Girls Just
Wanna Have Lunch (Dec. 15) at Anis Cafe.
Starting in mid-January, MESH
Moms will start small groups for moms of
newborns who will have sessions over six
weeks with doulas, coaches, and experts
on healing after delivery, breastfeeding,
postpartum mental health, and more.
“The beauty of offering a lot is that
everyone can pick what’s best for them,”
said Caspari. “A mom who returned to work
can Zoom over lunch and come to weekend
events. Others say, ‘I want to meet during
the week because I’m by myself and need to
talk to grown-ups.’”
“Whether you need a class, a shoulder
to cry on, or a play date — you will find it
here,” Jimenez said.
Learn more at meshmoms.com or email
hello@meshmoms. com.
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