Seeking Moms Group in Joliet/Plainfield/Shorewood Area

Hi M.! I live in the same area, I'm 33, my kids are 12, 9, and 1 and I'm due with #4 in late September. If you'd like to meetup sometime, send me a message. I also have a moms group you can join, the link is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WillCountyMoms/

M.,

My name is S. and I am new to this area, just having moved to IL this past July. I have a 6 year old daughter and one on the way that is due May 5th.

I am in Channahon so maybe 25 minutes from you. I also wanted to stay home with my children. I have found a local organization called Moms Helping Moms that has allowed me to do just that. If you would be interested in this organization and how it can help you to stay home please feel free to contact me.

The organization is comprised mostly of Moms (some Dads) and I have met some wonderful women who are in the same boat as us (small children, and wanting to stay home with them!).

My email address is ____@____.com
and my cell number is 1-###-###-####

I would love to see if our organization is what you are looking for and if we can help you to reach your goals.

Sincerely,
S. Echols-Moodie

Hi M.,

My name is Jennifer I live in the area I am at Theodore and Ridge Road, if you know where that is. The sub division is Lakewood Prairie. I feel the same way as you, I just moved down this way about 7 months ago I am originally from Chicago so all my friends are up that way in Oak Lawn, Bridgeview and so on. I am 25 and have a daughter who just turned 5 last week, and I am self-employed. Here is my email... ____@____.com or you could message me on this site if you would like to meet up or talk!!!

J.

Hi M.,

I'm not involved in any group, but I do live in the Plainfield/Joliet area (off of Theodore/Caton Farm) - and have an almost 3 year old son and a 1 year old daughter. Congrats on your new baby !
Hope all is well,
Amy

If you're a breastfeeding mom, i have a free moms support group that meets weekly in Naperville at 95th St and Book Rd (just west of Rte 59):
http://www.mamasource.com/business/8288988875477483521

Hi M.,

I live in Plainfield (near Plfd. Central High School) and would welcome the chance to get together. I have a 4 1/2 yr old daughter who longs for more playmates, even though she attends pre-school three afternoons/week. I am an older mommy (49) and all of my friends' children are older. My other two children are 18 and 26, so they don't have much time for playing with her.

I also love being at home with my daughter - I have a work from home job that I do part-time as a technical internet recruiter. You can e-mail me directly at ____@____.com

cheers,

W.

I cannot recommend MOMS Club International enough. There are two chapters that may fit your needs based on where you live. Their website is www.momsclub.org and you can find specifics. If a chapter isn't listed, this doesn't mean one might not exist near you, just email them.

Mothers and More is also potential.

MOPS - mothers of preschoolers (but they meet Sept - May)

Meetup.com is an EXCELLENT avenue... there are a bunch of groups out around this area.

Good luck!
nicole

I found a wonderful group on meetup.com- it's made up of moms around the Plainfield area (Bolingbrook, Joliet, Romeoville, Shorewood). We do all kinds of fun activities in public places and in member's homes. Here's a link to their website: http://moms.meetup.com/2357/

Hi M.,
I can help you out with your interest in working from home. I have 2 home businesses and I love them both! Check out my websites:
www.homemadegourmet.com/cherylbass815123

http://my2tupperware.com/cabass

Call me ###-###-####, I'd love to help you!
C. Bass

Hi M., looks like you are getting a lot of responses!! I think we have all been in your boat! I am a Bolingbrook mom of 2 beautiful girls, (5 and 6) and a 1 year old boy... I struggled with both of your concerns until my girls were 2 and 3 and finally took the plunge to stay home... I had tried numerous at home daycares, and was just not satisfied ( I think I just really wanted to be the Mommy, but was afraid to let go of the paycheck!) We made it work for awhile, then I found lia sophia and started my own business. I love it! I get to be home with my kids, yet make tons of money.. I work about 5 nights a month but am able to have my kids be in all sorts of activities, and I get to be there with them!! That is the best part. If you want to have a playdate, or learn more about my business, and how it might work for you, email me at ____@____.com (my website is www.liasophia.com/dawnmaluck)
I researched alot of at home businesses, you just have to find the right one for you!
Good luck!! D. M.

I am farther south than you (we left that area last spring to move to Wilmington, and I tell you there are lots more of Jo-field refugees down here besides me!) and I found a group of stay-at-home/part-time/work-at-home moms through yahoo groups. Just go to the Yahoo homepage and click on the groups section and do a search. If you are interested in driving 20 min south for playgroups you can look us up under momsandtotsplaytime. We have twice monthly group playdates, one-on-one playdates whenever with whoever, mommies-night-outs, mommy-only coffee "dates", and various other things going on. If you want to stay more local, I would just do a search and I'm sure there are several similar groups in your immediate area.

As for the work-at-home thing, we are expecting daughter #2 in June (my first turned two just before Halloween) and I am planning on starting an in-home childcare for just a couple kids, either 2 full time or up to 4 part time. If you've ever paid daycare rates you know how much money you can make. Two kids full time can turn out to be over $200 a week. Some states are very strict about daycares being licensed and IL is not generally one of them. I believe if you have 4 or fewer children, total, in your home, meaning you could take 2 on full-time, you are not legally required to have any sort of license. If you go a bit over that number I'm quite sure no one is going to say boo about it. There are legal liabilities of course, but you can draw up some sort of contract for clients if that worries you a lot. You are entitled to both vacation and sick days, like any other job.

We decided that since it would be a while before baby can play with our daughter, and she's still a year or two off from starting legitimate preschool, this was a good idea. 1. It keeps me at home where I want to be. 2. It will bring in much needed money. And 3. It will provide live-in playmates for Claire which she very much needs for proper socialization. Now in your area there is less of a demand for childcare (down here there are really no formal business style childcare centers, mom run operations only) but I'm sure given the population you could get at least a couple kids, with no trouble and with the ability to choose which child you let in your home (I was told to have a 1 week free or half priced trial period to weed out the truly naughty).

So good luck with both situations and if you decide to check out our group (we have a group playdate this Friday!) I would love to see you!

http://moms.meetup.com/1867/

and/or

http://hotmommasclub.proboards85.com/index.cgi

Hi,

My advice to you is to enroll your older daughter in some type of class (playgroup, activity, etc) at the Y or park district. They even have reading times (lapsits) at libraries. This is how I met a lot of my "mom friends" and friends for my sons. Even preschool. This is how I met my "mom friends".

Hope this helps!

Hi M.:

I have a 3 1/2 yr old daughter as well and I would love for her to get some new friends. She goes to preschool in the morning 2 days a week on Tues and Thurs and my oldest is in Kindergarten. Have you had any luck with the work at home stuff. I did direct sales for 5 years different companies so if you need to talk it out with some one I can help, lots of experience in that. Let me know if you would like to meet up sometime and let our daughters play. I own a store called My Party Palace in downtown Plainfield if you want we could meet there and let the girls dress up and play in the morning sometime.

Let me know my email is ____@____.com

Take care and good luck with trying to find out what to do.

T.

Hi M.,
I just wanted to let you know that I go to a group on Thursday mornings at 10a in the Cathedral area of Joliet and hang out with a lovely group of women who bring their kids with and they play together. I have my 4 mo old with me. There's another woman who comes who has a six month old. Also, we happen to be going through the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren right now and it's never too late to come and join in. We've only been doing the book for the last two weeks, so we're not way deep into it. You're always welcome to join us. Just send me an email and I'll get you the info should you be interested in joining us or if you have more questions about it. Take care and God Bless!