Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Blair.
Carrie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am excited to share my new blog, it’s called New Mommy Village. As a first-time mom of baby myself, I created the blog to help support new moms with ideas and inspiration on how to build their own village, find resources in their area and make time for better self-care in the first year of Mommyhood.
My wish is that everyone has loved ones nearby and other mommy friends during the first year. I’ve heard from other moms even when you do have family or friends with young kids in town, Mommyhood can still be intense, beautiful and messy; but not having a local village adds another layer of challenges to the mix.
Some reasons new moms may need to build a village:
• All of your friends either don’t have little ones or have older kids
• Your family is in town, but not able to help out
• You are new in town
• You don’t have any family in town
When I left the business world to have my first child, I under-estimated the need for a local family/female support system.
The first couple of weeks I had the benefit of my husband’s help and support. Family came to visit for periods of time, but in the first year I had no family in town and when everyone went back to work, boy did I feel it – I was alone. I could’ve done different things, but I had no idea what I was doing. As I started trying to figure my new life out, one thing became abundantly clear – one mommy alone cannot DO and BE everything for the new baby every minute of the day. It sounds cliché but based on my experience I believe it really does Take a Village to raise a child.
I want to share my story and the challenges I had to overcome in the first year of being a Mom, so new moms don’t have to feel this way. Our generation typically has smaller families and our families are often more spread out. The first time I was up for 48 hours off and on with baby and my husband was out of town, I knew I needed a community and to create a Village. The hospital and doctors give you instructions on the baby’s feeding schedule, the nap schedule and the sleeping schedule, but they don’t give you instructions on the Mom’s Self-Care schedule and How to Build A Village. We have to start somewhere and find our “new normal”.
This was such an intense experience, that I personally felt drawn to create the New Mommy Village blog, as I wish I had this help in the early months. We help moms take those first steps.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m a new mommy blogger on the scene, the biggest challenge was putting myself out there. It’s scary sharing your personal story with the world. I knew I wanted to share my story to help other moms. There are so many great mommy bloggers out there and many who’ve helped me, I wanted to see what I could bring to the table that was different. I came to the realization that if only one new mom feels just a little less alone and isolated by hearing my story, then it’s worth it for me.
Please tell us about New Mommy Village. What do you do/specialize in?
The New Mommy Village blog idea was born out of my own personal experience and need to build a village with no map. I sought out to find solutions, and I hope to help others do the same. I love sharing these tips and resources, to help new moms find ways to Build their Village and Take Better Care of themselves.
“Our topics focus on you, The Mommy – tips on healthy mindset, finding your New Normal, ways to Build Your Village, routines, reinvention, making time for fitness, having gratitude, and finding fun things to do with baby. ” – Carrie Blair, Dallas Mom
What are you most proud of as a company?
I’m most proud that we can serve as a resource and encourage new moms to know that it is possible to take care of baby AND take care of yourself (even if you only have 15 minutes). It’s one thing to say this, it’s another thing to put into practice. It’s a start, but I’m also proud of our two new resources:
–Build Your Village Intro Guide
This introduction guide shares some of the needs I was experiencing and questions I started asking myself when going through this process. I look forward to creating similar Step-by-Step Guides in the coming months. Stay tuned!
–NMV Self-care Checklist
Even if you only have 15 minutes, I’ve listed ideas new moms can start doing today to take better care of yourself, such as when you are home-bound with baby, you want to schedule in “me” time or schedule “friend” time. I created this with the help of other fun and knowledgeable mommies in my village. I love these!
What sets you apart?
In my research, I found various articles here and there on how to Build A Village, but I couldn’t find anyone who did a deep dive into understanding this need to build a village, along with the practical connection through their personal story. Every mom’s situation is different, so I can only share what I’m learning and what’s worked for me in the hope it helps others with creating their own personal approach. I feel like it’s a niche, but one that will continue to grow as families continue to move for opportunities.
Many mom blogs focus on baby. I wanted to take a step further and focus on the mom, specifically ones who have little to no local support.
I created my own village through discovering resources around me and connecting with others at Mommy and baby classes, swim classes, walking trails and baby activities at malls. Even one of my neighbors I later found out has nephews and nieces, so she’s used to kids and was interested in babysitting, bonus! I wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t made the effort to get out of the house and get to know her over time. You want to fill your village with people you feel like you know and trust. I’ll be honest, carving out time to do this is challenging especially when taking care of a new baby who needs constant care (who has the time?), but this is where I come in and encourage new moms that it’s possible AND it’s worth it!
If moms only walk away with one thing, these are the types of resources they can find on the New Mommy Village website:
Checklists
Step-by-Step Guides
Community resources
Mommy blog
YouTube videos
Instagram for quick inspiration
Whether people are in the Dallas area or in other large cities, I believe moms can benefit from these tips.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I just got started, I’m learning along the way 😊
Contact Info:
- Website: www.newmommyvillage.com
- Email: newmommyvillage@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newmommyvillage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/New-Mommy-Village-222671958279410/
Image Credit:
New Mommy Village
canva.com
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