Published: November 14, 2008 10:33 pm      

Online group provides mom-to-mom connection

Mothers of all ages can benefit from a unique group that combines online resources with community participation.

BeckleyMOMMIES came to the area soon after Erica Lafferty moved from North Carolina.

“When you’re new in an area, it’s great to have people you can talk to about finding a pediatrician, a family care physician and those kinds of things. I belonged to CharlotteMOMMIES, and when I realized there wasn’t a chapter here, I decided to start one.

Before long, she had connected with Tracey Quattlebaum of Beckley, and the two are now working to increase awareness about the group.

“Once a mom, always a mom,” Quattlebaum said. “We all have a lot of the same worries, fears, interests, questions, etc., but the group isn’t just about mom questions. We cater to women with all kinds of interests.”

The secured Web site, www.BeckleyMOMMIES.com, provides a forum where women can go online and chat about everything from concerns about infertility to newly pregnant first-time moms with all kinds of questions.

Foster moms, stay-at-home moms, career moms, mothers who are going to school all find other women with common interests and issues, Quattlebaum said.

Lafferty had quit a job to become a stay-at-home mom to Connor, 2, and Cadence, 6 months.

“Being a mom can be demanding, but it’s not as difficult when you have a sense of connection with other moms who’ve experienced some of the same concerns you’ve had,” she said.

BeckleyMOMMIES, however, is more than a support group. Members get together for fun activities and to do projects that benefit the community.

“It’s not just about raising kids. It’s about everything. It’s really a support group for the whole family,” Lafferty said.

Online information keeps moms updated on news about vaccinations; toy, food and baby product recalls; and other timely issues.

There is no membership fee, and the group meets regularly at the Raleigh County Public Library.

For more information, visit www.BeckleyMOMMIES.com.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com