Kid Collective

In addition to all the supplies like diapers and burp cloths, many new moms want one thing above all else: support. The old adage “It takes a village” still rings true, and the moms behind Wilmington Moms Group felt the same way.

KELLEY EGGERT, AMBER TYLER, and AMANDA BACON run the private networking group on Facebook and have accrued more than 12,000 members who share tips and tricks for navigating parenthood through all the ups and downs.

“Born and raised in Wilmington, I became a mom at twenty years old,” Eggert says. “Although I had the support from my family, I wished I had a ‘community’ to turn to, and maybe I did, but I don’t recall having groups available to join and turn to for advice.

“I have been a part of Wilmington Moms Group for almost eight years and an administrator for two-and-a-half years with Amanda. I asked my sister, Amber, to help run the group since she was a stay-at-home parent and was extremely active in the group.”

The group is described as, “…a group of moms in the Wilmington area (but not limited to it) that can share ideas, ask questions and give each other words of wisdom on the joys of motherhood! ALL are welcome, please invite your friends or request to join if you want to become part of the group!”

Having moms with different backgrounds and daily schedules run the group adds to the advice and assistance they can provide to moms of all kinds.

One of the best features of a community forum is getting firsthand experience from moms who have used certain products, specialists, and or care facilities.

Anyone can find reviews online from strangers, but having real conversations with local moms is truly priceless when it comes to caring for children of all ages.

“Some of the frequent questions we see come across are moms asking for feedback on different day care facilities, recommendations on pediatricians, and moms looking for stay-at-home jobs,” Eggert says.

Threads that focus on parenting advice are often the most active.

“We see a lot of posts coming through that deal with tips on sleep training/breaking the pacifier and bottle,” Eggert says. “Moms don’t always agree with what age it should be done, and that’s totally okay. It’s whatever works for the child and the family, and tips and tricks are always nice to help with the transition of it.

“Another thread we see a lot are based on the local elementary schools,” she adds. “Moms asks pro and cons advice of switching kids, or if the family is moving, they sometimes base their move on what school would be better.”

Since becoming an administrator, Eggert has watched Wilmington Moms Group grow by 2,000 members.

“It’s definitely more involved than in the beginning. With 12,000 moms in the group, it’s amazing. We have tried to make the page better to navigate. We have several things pinned at the stop for a quick find – resources for moms in need of help, holiday activities that are updated with every holiday, Fridays are dedicated to moms selling things, and Saturdays are dedicated to self-promoting.”

This helps group members know which days to avoid if any particular category does not interest them. It also allows for occasional opportunities for selling and self-promotion which some groups restrict.

Eggert is a mom to six kids including one stepson, so in addition to helping other moms, she gains a lot of insight from questions and comments, as well.

“I believe in networking because I feel like we all have a different perspective on parenting, and we come together to ask for advice, second opinions, and support,” Eggert says. “I have had a lot of questions in becoming a stepparent and a parent to multiple kids. You always feel like you are alone when it’s tough, and I have learned to turn to the group when it’s most needed.”

Tyler is a mom to five children, and Bacon has two children. Both are busy moms with a lot to offer to and learn from the group, as well.

There are rules for members of the group to ensure the safety and helpfulness of the networking environment.

Rules include being kind and courteous to other members, respecting the privacy of others, not using hate speech, no promotions or spam, no financial requests, no pet rehoming, reporting improper content to administrators, and living locally. These rules help maintain the safety of the group and protect its members from phishing from outside sources that have not been approved by the group administrators. The group averages about 60 posts per day from its members.

With 12,000 members, ideas for the group and its future are always floating around such as possible events and added ways to offer support to fellow moms.

“I would love to do monthly meetups just so we can be more connected; would love to be able to advise the group,” Eggert says. “I know it may sound silly because some just look at us as a Facebook group, but we are moms – we look after one another!”

Looking ahead, the organizers hope the group remains a resource.

“We would love for the group to continue to grow here locally,” Eggert says. “It holds a lot of resources for families with kids birth into teen years. We have no plans in shutting the group down.

“We are a community, a village,” she says. “Moms need that.”

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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