Mama Mixers
Moving to a new area can be exciting and daunting at the same time but add into the mix becoming a new mum and it can be a whole other ball game.
That's what I did. I left my friends and family and a life I knew for a new life in Tunbridge Wells.
Like many people who live in London, you can’t see yourself ever wanting to leave – with so much convenience right on your door step it's hard to imagine. Also, like many people, time ticks on, people start getting married, buying property and having children and making that unimaginable move out of the city a little more appealing.
Our catalyst was getting pregnant. We got married and bought our first home in London and it was great but with a baby on the way we just couldn't see how a one bed top floor conversion flat was going to cut it. That, coupled with the lure of free childcare from my mother in law, who resides in East Sussex as well as the value for money on property, our decision was made.
Funnily enough we actually didn't consider anywhere but Tunbridge Wells for this move. I think somehow, we always knew we would move here. Having visited for shopping trips with the in laws we knew the town centre pretty well, that coupled with a relativity fast commute into London for us both and a house for the same price as a flat in London we were sold.
The one thing I hadn't really considered when planning the move was the support networks. We knew we would have help with childcare but I hadn't put much thought into the fact that I was moving to a whole new area where I knew no one and was about to have a baby. Some will say this is the best time to do it as it is easier to make friends when you've had a child and they might just be right, I'll never know any different.
We signed up for NCT, as that's just what you do isn't it? You learn about what you're about to embark on whilst getting some friends who are also all becoming first time parents.
Our babies arrived, and we signed up to all the baby groups together, swimming, stay and play, baby explorers etc. I came to meet a lot of other new mums at these classes, who like me, had moved from London. In fact, out of our NCT group of seven, four of us were not from Tunbridge Wells or even Kent.
It occurred to me around this time that with so many people in the same boat as me, surely, they were missing their social life and having the same struggles I was with moving to a new area and making new friends. That’s why I started Mama Mixers. It’s a simple concept – Mums meeting other mums with a glass of wine (or three) and making friends. Meeting mums at baby groups has its place but personally I was missing those women to go out with on a Friday night and talk about something other than babies.
I now run nights out every other month, they range from different activities – wine tasting, Tapas night, drinks, dancing and gin tasting. It’s open to all women and is a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
It’s certainly helped me readjust with the move to Tunbridge Wells and I honestly haven’t looked back. This is my new home and the more people I meet and the more I explore the area I fall in love with it more and more. It’s easy to see why it’s the destination of choice when moving from the city.
Check out Mama Mixers upcoming events here
