Mother Groups | Mum Support | Forums | Online Mothers | Mothers Help

Developing a Resource for Young Mums (24 and under)

Hi All,

I'm a mummy to my little buba boy who's 4months old. Other than being a muma I work as Foundation Director for a Charitable Trust developing programmes for young people (12 -24years) currently I'm working on developing a resource for young mumas (24 and under), does anyone have any ideas that they would like to see happen for young mumas, we are hoping (if funding permits) to have a nation wide web accessed resource and start support / coffee groups in specific communities in which we would train young mumas in facilitation to do, and also offer support to ones that may already be taking place.

This year we are assessing the need and viability of having antenatal classes for young mumas specifcally set up. Everything we develop we do only on a needs basis, so basically we love programmes tailor made by the peeps its for. If your a young mum who has some ideas on what you would of liked or would like available to young mums it would be great to hear. Or of your keen on joining a young mums coffee group just let me know.

hope all the mumas, bubas (and daddys) are doing well in this cold weather.

Tags: young mums resource

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by HaPPi BuNNi on July 1, 2009 at 11:38pm: Hi there,

I'm 19 with 2yo twin boys, currently I'm involving myself with the research for a new Teen Parents Centre that the Auckland Women's Centre.
This is something I am greatly passionate about, and I also think that dads should be involved in these sort of things aswell as often the young mums find the little support that is out their for them but their partners struggle on the sidelines.

I have a young parents coffee group myself and we started working on a Young Parents magazine, which was to include things about events not only for parents but for young people, and information on uni and courses etc
I do think that a decent site with plenty of info and contacts would be one of the greatest tools to supply, it's always the net that people turn to for info these days.

i would like to keep in contact with you, if that's ok?
My email is: kisskiss_aaliyah@yahoo.com.au
What area are you based in?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Philippa Holmes on July 2, 2009 at 12:07am: Most of the work we do with young people is based in the Tamaki Area, so east auckland. And we really are interested in engaging with young fathers and partners of young mums that might be out of the age bracket, we are hoping to get a few focus groups going with young parents.

Will drop you an email now so you have my email addy.

congrats on the work and engagement you are currently in with young mumas.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jess Bosgra on July 2, 2009 at 3:32pm: Hey, I'm 22 and a mum of 1, 2 at the end of the year. Don't have much to add, but a place to find a coffee group for a young mum without any other connections would be a great resource - it's so important to connect with other mums in your area, no matter what age you are!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by HaPPi BuNNi on July 4, 2009 at 3:56pm: We pretty much need a one-stop young parent contact site.
It's hard, especially for those without net, to sit on forums and wait to find parents in similar age, willing to meet up/chit chat etc.
We need one site that has what it takes to become a site like here or Treasures forums - I guess it's all about advertising and word of mouth, really.

And this centre that AWC are planning should be some great help.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by sophyzippo on July 13, 2009 at 6:20pm: Hi
I'm sophy and I have a two and a half year old.
I started up the Young Parents Breastfeeding group in Chch.
It was great for breastfeeding young (under 24) mums.There is also a coffeegroup after meetings.

However some of the mums brought their partner/hubby/bf along and sometimes they intimidated the other mums.Not just in terms of breastfeeding,but in other topics also.So something to be aware of perhaps?

It sounds like a great idea :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Monique on July 13, 2009 at 8:39pm: fathers should always be welcome tho especially younger fathers and they need to fit & feel apart of it aswell. cause most people seem to forget that there life has changed too and theres always lots of things to help mums but never fathers.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathy Matthew on July 13, 2009 at 9:27pm: Hi there,

I used to run the Young Mothers Group in Thames via the Thames Womens Centre for a couple of years, and even though it takes a lot of work to set up, its a brilliant venture for sure! Even though I was an older mum (young at heart!) I really enjoyed their company and how inspirational they could be. I really recommend having them, even though these days funding can be a problem. If something could be set up nationwide, with resources of information to help in the running of these groups, then it would be fantastic.

I also convened Childbirth Education Classes via the Thames Hauraki Parents Centre, and bought up many a time to PCNZ about the need for CBE (AN) Classes for teen mums, as they are in very different situations to older mums/couples, and of course the stigma around being a young mum meant that many didnt attend the needed classes.

Currently I live in Rotorua and have met a fantastic Young Mum to a 1 yr old, Kelly Talbot who is currently training to become a CBE Educator with AN and BF Education for Young Mums. She also has been working on becoming a YM Midwife as well. I met Kelly as she needed pregnant mums to support during the pregnancy & birth, and she was fantastic to say the least. Even she was faced with mums that decided not to use her because of her age - more fool them!!

A Magazine would be fantastic!! and would love to hear more about that

:)); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sammy on July 14, 2009 at 3:51pm: Hi there i am 18, living in Auckland. I completely agree with the need for antenatal classes specifically young parent focused ours were run through north shore hospital and they were uninformative and did not encourage connecting with other young parents at all, we were left feeling uninformed, disappointed and confused as to the whole process of birth.
I have found it very difficult to find mature minded young mums and dads to connect with, and am still trying to this day, all the best with your endeavor.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by HaPPi BuNNi on July 14, 2009 at 4:09pm: I would love to be able to find the resources and help/ideas for the magazine, even just to have one simple issue printed at home but where do i begin?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Philippa Holmes on July 14, 2009 at 9:23pm: Hi all,

great reading all the replys to the thread, we have some really awesome things coming up over the next couple of months that we have in development and are in talks with some web savvy peeps at the moment to get the ball rolling on a monthly newsletter to get started with.

if anyone or everyone is keen on being apart of throwing round their ideas of content etc and seeing whats going to happen with the resource please email me on erickholmesfoundation@gmail.com and we will keep you in the loop...

we are going to be having a facilitation session about the resource with young mums on friday the 31st July in glen innes, although are looking at possibly changing the location to someone central if its suits people. will keep you all posted.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by HaPPi BuNNi on July 15, 2009 at 10:26am: Central would be great as I dont drive and I live out West :)
I also have no clue where GI is haha
Definitely keen to be involved!; ▶ Reply to This