Boston's Best Places For Moms To Meet
Kid-friendly venues are easy to come by, but finding the right fit for moms may prove a bit more challenging. Boston's best places for moms to meet offer a little bit of everything, from movies to yoga body makeovers. Expect a great time with like-minded moms and their kids at the city's most baby-friendly mom-bonding businesses.
Box Office Babies
Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 734-2500
Price: $6.75 adults/free kids younger than 12 months
Dates: alternate Fridays
Times: 11 a.m.
Baby-friendly screenings of the most recent feature films at Coolidge Corner Theatre take place on alternate Fridays at 11 a.m. in the beautiful first-floor main theater. Lights are turned up slightly so parents may safely walk fussy babies, and the movie's volume is tempered so it won't overwhelm the youngest viewers. There's no need for infants to be quiet; these biweekly film viewings are designed to enable new parents to relax without worry. The theater's lobby accommodates stroller parking and there are two restrooms with changing tables.
Yoga for Single Moms
Namo Yoga Studio
21 Belmont St.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 868-0756
yogaforsinglemoms.com/
Price: free
Dates: Fridays
Launched in March, Yoga for Single Moms is the culmination of the vision of actress Michelle Williams, who turned to yoga for relief and renewal after the tragic death of her partner, actor Heath Ledger. She says she envisions the classes as a haven where single moms may de-stress for an hour without financial worries. Kids 3 and older are welcome to accompany their moms and will enjoy special activities and classes in an adjoining room, all for free. Four of the classes in each six-week session are for moms only, while the first and last classes of the series are open to all family members.
Metrowest Mothers & More
www.metrowestmothersandmore.org/
Price: $45 annual Membership
With about 200 members, Metrowest Mothers & More welcomes moms in Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley and other towns in Boston's Metrowest area. The chapter sponsors twice-monthly discussion meetings, moms' nights out, groups for cooking, books and weight loss, community service projects, playgroups, children's activities and annual appreciation events. Regardless of whether you work in the home or in the office, whether you're single or married, or whether your kids are in high school or soon to be born, if you're a mom, you're welcome here. Even if they can't get to meetings, members may participate in the group's online community, which shares valuable resources for childcare, home repair and favored vacation venues.
Full Moon Restaurant
344 Huron Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 354-6699
www.fullmoonrestaurant.com
Lunch: Mon to Fri – 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Brunch: Sat and Sun – 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Serving families and kids since 1997, the Full Moon Restaurant is a great choice for moms who are looking for a child-friendly place to have lunch without hassles. It's owned by two sisters who were young moms themselves when they opened the eatery. Full Moon's belief that "parents should be able to eat well, too," has made it a mecca for families with young children. This celebrated urban café is beloved for its kid-savvy menu (complete with sippy cups) and for its full-scale play area with puzzles and buckets of toys to occupy children while moms chat and relax over a second cup of tea.
New Babies/New Moms Support Groups
Freedman Center for Child & Family Development
225 Nevada St.
Newtonville, MA 02460
(617) 244-INFO
www.mspp.edu/
Price: free
The Freedman Center offers free, six-week support groups for moms with kids 6 months old and younger. Each group is run by experienced professional facilitators who provide guidance on developmental issues, changing family relationships, child care options, coping strategies and managing new moms' expectations. The Freedman Center strives to provide a safe and nurturing environment for new moms to meet other women sharing the same life-changing, and often overwhelming, experiences. New mothers benefit not only from the reliable guidance they receive, but also from the camaraderie and companionship of other parents in their group.
Related: Family Fun Guide to Best Boston Kids' Cooking Classes
Maureen Harmonay wears many hats. She is a real estate agent who specializes in country estates, antique homes, and horse properties in the metrowest suburbs of Boston. With certifications in Feng Shui and as an Eco-Broker, she is keenly attuned to how energy affects the health of a home and its occupants, both humans and pets. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
