Finding My “Village” in Columbia

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Finding My “Village” in Columbia - Columbia SC Moms BlogBryan and I moved to Columbia from Charlotte in May 2014. Our daughter was six months old. We were leaving the only friend circle we knew (which was a group of awesome non-parents who, while incredibly supportive of our new role, were also slightly terrified on how to deal with us) and our families were hours away.

It was a daunting adventure that loomed ahead of us, but we pushed ahead. We settled in Irmo for the first year thinking it would grant us the opportunity to meet other young families such as ourselves. Visions of backyard grill-outs, late-night card games with our besties talking about our latest poop-splosion episodes, and playdates at the playground filled my mind.

I was thrilled at the thought of making a “mom” friend. I needed one desperately. Bryan needed a “dad” friend. We needed friends who understood what the new chapters of our lives read like.

A year passed with us still just enjoying one another and our now toddler daughter. We were in a great neighborhood; Bryan was thriving in his new role at the plant; I had started back to work over the summer … and still, we had no friends to call at the last minute and say “Want to come over to finish the bottle of wine we started last night while we let the kids play?”

After almost a year of commuting on the nightmare that is Interstate 26 and Interstate 20, we decided that maybe Forest Acres would be a better place for us. I thought we would meet some hipster neighbor family of ours that would introduce us to a local beer joint where we could let the kids run around our table while sampling a craft brew flight.

I loved Forest Acres. I loved living so close to Trader Joe’s and Publix and a couple of outstanding parks with splash pads! I was only ten minutes from work and we had enrolled Mackenzie in an awesome daycare that I was sure I would secure a mom bff at!

Six months in, the great deluge of Columbia happened and we found ourselves in a rental home with a basement full of mold and I was pregnant with our second child. We were sick constantly and the neighborhood I had hoped would be our saving grace with a social life and thriving friendships had turned into a gloomy spot.

We had called the Columbia area home for a year and a half now and we still were loners. It wasn’t for the lack of trying. I got on the mom-dating app. We talked about joining a church – even if we weren’t very religious. I introduced myself to people randomly while out and about hoping that we would find instant chemistry with someone.

It just wasn’t happening.

We talked about moving back to Charlotte. I longed for friendly conversations, hosting dinner parties, someone to text a funny joke or story to. Both of our jobs were secure in Columbia and we loved what we did. Our second baby was about to be born and we wanted to put down roots for our children.

So, we bought a house in Blythewood. I was so desperate to find friends at this point I actually contemplated putting an ad on Craigslist for one. This is what I mentally drafted “Married, pregnant mom of toddler looking for another mom of one to three children to befriend. Must enjoy wine, beer, and humorous movies. Will be available for at least one to two playdates a month, if not more. Must be willing to discuss more than just children and their poop schedules; however, both parties would be understanding if that was the only focus of conversation for a time. Please contact me immediately for a cup of coffee to see if we ‘mesh’!”

My husband thought it was pregnancy insanity, but honestly, I just needed someone – anyone.

I had my second baby and found myself on maternity leave. I was in a beautiful new home, in a lovely neighborhood, and time to actually cultivate relationships and explore new parts of the city I had been in now almost two years. I told my husband I wouldn’t post on Craigslist, but I was going to try to organize a stroller–walk mom group on Nextdoor. If you haven’t heard of the app, check it out. It’s a great way for neighborhoods to get to know one another!

The first woman who responded to my post was Latasha. Then Valerie. We set a time for us to get together to walk and we actually did it. After a couple of half-hour walks, we took turns at each other’s homes for coffee and dessert (seriously, Latasha has me all drooling with her homemade raspberry sauce!). We talked about our kids, we laughed, and we let them play with one another while we enjoyed each other.

It was only in the first three times of visiting together that I felt it. FRIENDSHIP. These women were completely different than me, but we had one thing in common. We wanted to become friends. We were mothers. We understood one another.

With this newfound confidence, I found Adrianne. I was on micit – Columbia and bought a dress from a young woman in Blythewood. Via Facebook messenger, we chatted and found out we had babies within 20 days of each other. Adrianne was a first-time mom and approaching going back to work. I understood so much of what she was going through.

So, without ever meeting face-to-face she invited me and my husband and children out to have Mexican one random Friday night. I’m sure our husbands were so weary, but I was so desperate to have a “couple” friend that we could hang out with that even if it went horribly awry maybe we could start a trend and just start inviting random couples and families out to dinner like blind dates when we were single.

How bad could it be?

It ended up being fantastic. Adrianne and I are like the same person. And our husbands? They became fast friends and golf buddies. She is the friend I text when I’m heading home early on a Tuesday night and say “Want to come over for pizza and beer?” and she says “YES! I’ll bring cookies.”

Total awesomeness.

After Adrianne, I met Rachel and her amazing kids. Rachel actually showed me that even with being a mom of two I could still do stuff like go to breakfast downtown and be “cool” again.

Then Jana, Bernie, and Nina who have seen me in the middle of toddler meltdowns and infant screaming sessions and never once batted an eye.

It took us two years, but Bryan and I have found our village. We have made a few other close friends in our neighborhood and have actually hosted a couple of cook-outs and are looking forward to some more fun when the weather cools.

I write this because if you are new to Columbia; don’t give up. Your village is there. You will find it, because if I could – anyone can.

How did you find your mom village?

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Brandi
Brandi’ Starbuck is a recent transplant to the Columbia, SC area from Charlotte, NC where she met her husband, Bryan, and where they welcomed their first baby girl, Mackenzie. Now living in Blythewood, SC with a spirited, fun-loving 2-year-old (who looks exactly like her daddy, but acts just like mama) and expecting their second baby (a boy!) at the first of April, they are thrilled to call the Midlands home! Brandi’ juggles working full-time, outside the home, as a property manager of an apartment community in Northeast Columbia, keeping Mackenzie entertained, and occasionally enjoying a date night with her handsome hubby! Lover of shoes, social media resale shops, and all Pinterest recipe boards, she is excited (and terrified) to have two young children and can’t wait to share her journey with others in her writing. Along with their three small dogs that were their first “babies,” they are one small addition away from completing their family! You can expect to see the Starbuck family strolling along the Villages at Sandhill on the weekends, with a cliché and loved cup of Starbucks coffee in their hands, wearing matching tees purchased from a mom-owned Instagram shop.

14 COMMENTS

  1. I love this post. I completely relate to what you went through as I’m going through the same thing now. First time working mom of an almost 8 month old boy. Things have gotten pretty lonely for my husband since we have become parents. I’m desperate to find mommy friends too. I too had grand ideas of play dates and backyard grills but the reality wasn’t as inviting so I’m still looking for my mom village ?

    • Don’t give up, mama! It takes time, but I found that by just embracing every opportunity and being open-minded really helped me to connect with my friends.

  2. I have heard the same story from several mom’s and I have experienced it myself. I am not sure what makes it so hard to meet people here.I have two school age children and it is hard to meet people at school. I am glad that you have found a good group of ladies!

  3. I can also completely relate to this as we moved here about two and a half years ago and still haven’t found many good friends. I have a three year old and a 2 month old and have just started back to work this week. My husband works very long hours so we certainly have some tough nights and weekends when he can’t be home. I’d love to meet up with moms around town sometime!

    • I can relate! I just started back to work a month ago and it is such a difficult transition. Feel free to connect with other Columbia mamas on Facebook and follow us for events that we host regularly. They are great for kid-friendly events! And I would love to meet you! 🙂

  4. I have been here for 7 plus years & still have this problem. I am a stay at home mom that moved here from Cary, NC & I have found the older your children are, the harder it is to make friends. Again not from a lack of trying, church, PTA, neighborhood activities, etc. I am open for any suggestions. I don’t drink coffee but, I go to Starbucks for the fancy FB pink drink (haha).

  5. I can totally relate as we have lived here 4 yrs, and believe it or not, still haven’t found any good friendships. My husband works at the plant and Im a former nurse, but now stay at home with our 2yr daughter. Like you, Ive tried everything from meetup app to church, etc. I’m a former military airforce kid and navy wife, and have lived all over the country, and must say columbia is by far the hardest place Ive lived in to find and make friends. So happy you found your village because I’m still looking for mine!

  6. I can totally relate to this in so many ways. Many moms have younger children but mine is in college. Trying to find friends can be a challenge. Having a village is so important for sanity.

  7. I’m going through the same problem. We moved here mid June 2016 from Winston-Salem NC. My husband works long hours at the hospital and I just need a mom that we can go to lunch together and coffee together! And ever since we moved here we’ve been on the lookout for some friends. I thought it will be easy to make friends at my son’s school but looks like I got that wrong. Everyday I go to riverfront park to run/walk hoping that I will meet one of the moms but alas!!! On weekends we go to Soda City farmers market, we attend international festival and we’ve tried talking to folks but somehow we don’t click. I also go to Shandon Baptist Church hoping to meet a family there. Last week the farmers market we met a couple that we really liked and I thought we clicked, and when we were about to exchange numbers they told us they were here for the weekend and they live in New Jersey!!! 🙁

    We have decided to move back to Winston Salem June 2019, as Columbia is the hardest place to make friends.

  8. I hate that we never got together when we lived close. So much in common. I’m still looking for my village, but it has to be out there.

    • Hi Amber, are you still in Columbia?

      Please add me as your friend on Facebook. I have made a few friends and we meet for coffee, lunch and walks.

      Kay

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