And, you may want to ask the local librarian or chamber of commerce (if there is one.) Just say I am new to town, I work at home full time as a ??? and am interested in volunteering or meeting other local MOms. ANd see what they suggest.

And, most small towns don't really need listservs or facebook groups. People talk so much and see each other so much they just may not be needed. The only thing I have seen in smaller areas are "yard sale" type facebook groups--which I would join if I were you. Where I lived the local newspaper still served some of these functions and their website was where message boards and forums were located.

You may be running into problems because people in the small town may not understand the whole "work from home" full-time thing. They may just think you are a snobby stay at home mom. They don't see you out working at the walmart, right? So, you may want to tell the people you do meet (at church) that you were lucky to keep your full-time job and work from home, etc.. etc... but it is hard to get out.

Take time off or make up time later and take the time out to go to story time and children's activities at the library. That is how you will probably meet other Moms, usually stay at home Mom's though. Sometimes there will be adult bookclubs or children's events on a Sat. but it depends on how active the library is.

If there is a local phone directory, check it out to see if there are local arts organizations or dog rescue groups or Kiwanas club or something. When I lived in a small town in Georgia, there were a lot more "organizations" people joined in order to make new friends or make connections--it may be hard to find out about them, though.

If there is a local or regional paper, no matter how small, subscribe to it. There will be pictures of organizations have charity events, speakers, etc... and you might be able to get some ideas.

Try another church which seems to have more small children, or do more with the church you are going to. Ask the pastor where they need help, if you haven't already done so. It is possible everyone there has their "territory" all mapped out. Maybe even schedule a counseling session with the pastor, explain the situation, and they may have suggestions.

try meetup.com or facebook for local groups.

We do go to church, but it's a very small one. I haven't met anyone my own age there yet, and the social activities for women are during the day.

Preschool does not start until 4 here and DC is not in daycare (we have a sitter come to the house). I visit DC every few months and wait until then to get my hair done (really!). We haven't even met our neighbors. I always wave and say hello if we're out walking and they look at us and walk back inside. It's very strange.

No local listserves.

How can I find volunteer activities? I have no found anything through our church yet, but can ask again.

Volunteering
church
gym
library
local listserves - are there any? Can you troll those for a playgroup or exercise club - or Craigslist?
preschool
Sometimes there's classes or groups that meet through a local craft or knitting store

I live in a big city but met a friend at a nail salon (we taught our husbands to be friends and everything), and through weekly volunteering.

Check out the activity calendar at your local library to see if there's something that would interest you -- book club, knitting circle, etc. Join a gym and start taking a class that appeals to you. Does your child go to a daycare center? Perhaps set up a Saturday morning playdate at the park for the kids in his/her class.

Go to a hair salon and start chatting. Try a few. Find a Mother's Day Out program at a church, any church. Join it and get to know the Moms there. Really, a lot of the community activities are church-based in small towns. Even if you're not religious, people do it to meet their neighbors and to help others in the community. Try a few, see what feels welcoming. Also, start researching preschools and start talking to the directors.

church, gym, pta

Anonymous wrote:Most public libraries have story time for the kids on a weekly basis (mine is free).

Yes. But I work full time.

Most public libraries have story time for the kids on a weekly basis (mine is free).

Anonymous wrote:Library? How do the other people in your new small town have friends? Copy what they do.

I have no idea. I assume they all grew up here and met in school.

How do you meet people in a library?

Library? How do the other people in your new small town have friends? Copy what they do.

I posted a few months ago about DH just up and moving us to a small town. Things have gone from bad to worse. I haven't met one single person since moving here. It doesn't help that I work full time from home as a consultant and feel like I don't have any time to do anything but work and take care of our almost one year old. I am lonely. I sometimes go weeks without talking to anyone but DH.

So - I'm curious, especially if you're from a very small town or work long hours, how do you meet people? All the things I used to do to meet people in DC just aren't available here.