Where do you go for advice when you need it?
How do you find the local grocery store with the best deals, or which local park is the best for beating the midday heat?
Even if you’ve lived in the same area for years, how do you stay caught up on local happenings?
In research that may or may not surprise you, an overwhelming majority of parents (79%!) who use social media said they get such advice through their social networks.
While it may seem odd to look to Facebook for more than funny memes or your third cousin’s Christmas pictures, if you haven’t following along with these local mamas then you’re only getting half the story!
Let us introduce you to some of our favorite local parents, pages, and groups that keep us in the know. Some are private (which means you need to request to join) and some are not, but a simple Facebook search will take you right to them.
You don’t have to live in the area to appreciate these, heck you don’t even have to be a parent (though it certainly helps) Even if some of these are familiar to you, you may just find a new favorite!
Madisonville Moms
Don’t let the name fool you, to enjoy this friendly group you don’t have to live in Madisonville but it’d probably help if you at least travel to the west side of the parish sometimes. This is a closed group, so you will need to click the ‘request’ button to join.
MM is one of the biggest online communities in the area (they even have their own hashtag! #mmtribe), with several off-shoot groups for all interests.
Own a small business? They have a group for that.
Looking for a babysitter or want to join an outing with other local parents? They have a group for that!
Just about every question any of us has ever had will be answered here. Whether you’re curious about the student-to-teacher ratio at your new school, or are looking for a new pediatrician, or feel like you’ll go nuts if you have to stay at home with the kids one more second, this group will have the answer!
Northshore Mama
St Tammany local Kari is focused on finding the best deals to be had around town, online, or really anywhere!
Curious which local grocery store has milk on sale this week? She’s posting pics from Winn Dixie!
Feel like you could be getting more from your Amazon Prime membership? She’s got the scoop.
She maintains a blog in addition to her popular Facebook page, and also runs several Facebook ‘events’ which highlight her finds. We’re convinced she spends every waking moment researching ways to save money.
In what’s become one of her most popular resources, on those nights you can’t stand the thought of paying for a kids meal but equally disgusted by your kitchen she has a whole page listing where kids eat free at local restaurants, every night of the week!
Northshore Parent
When you’re looking at the weekend looming in front of you with no real plans and the bored voices of your children echoing in your ears, the contributors of Northshore Parent are here to help!
Every week they compile a list of family-friendly happenings across St Tammany, and also regularly publish articles of interest to local parents.
Curious where to get your kiddo’s hair cut without spending an arm & a leg? They have a list for that.
Looking for birthday party ideas that don’t include your living room? There are suggestions for that too.
The associated Facebook page is a super resource for every concern, whether you’re looking for someone to clean your house or curious about that park you drive by every day.
Momma’s Luv
If you find yourself on the ‘crunchy’ end of the parenting spectrum, you’ll be right at home in the ML group. This is another page that you’ll have to request to join, but the moderators are very hands-on and will help you get settled right away!
If you are curious which kind of cloth diaper is right for your family, or looking for non-medical resources for your hay fever, you’ll have no trouble finding guidance from like-minded mamas.
One of the best features of this group is that you don’t have to be local to appreciate the support of this super-positive community, but the frequent meetups that are scheduled help those who live in the area find new friends!
Join one or all of these fantastic local resources, and you’ll discover a world of community you never imagined. If you haven’t already, you can even check out our Facebook page here (sorry, we had to!)
Social media, indeed!