We all know it takes a village to raise a child, but what if you don't have one?
"A message I've seen over and over from moms on Facebook is asking how to meet other moms and make friends, and even moms who say they are lonely and need friends," Macaroni KID publisher Kara Ault says.
That was the motivation for Kara to host a recent mom friend speed dating event in her community of Fayetteville, Ark. The idea? To give moms a chance to chat with other moms one-on-one through a "speed dating"-like format.
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Publisher Kara Ault and her daughters. Kara lives in Arkansas and publishes Macaroni KID Fayetteville and Macaroni KID Rogers-Bentonville. | ||
"Let’s face it, as busy moms, it’s hard to make new friends. Our lives revolve around our children and often our spouses/partners, leaving little time for ourselves and our needs," she wrote in an article about her event. "Some of us are new to the area, and the recent pandemic hasn't allowed as much social time as normal. We all know that in order to best care for our loved ones, we have to take care of ourselves, but life often gets in the way of that, including fostering friendships with other moms. Wouldn’t it be nice to meet some other moms who might bring something new to your life?"
She chose "Speed Friending" so the women attending the event would have a chance to meet multiple women in a short amount of time in a stress-free way. Along with "speed friending," her guests enjoyed fun photo props, music, appetizers, drinks, door prizes, and pampering. Kara worked with local businesses to host the event and provide entertainment.
 Moms in attendance had a chance to meet one-on-one to make connections. |
Kara isn't the only creative Macaroni KID publisher to host a speed friending event. A number of publishers have hosted similar events over the years, with mentions on local news stations and even Good Morning America.
"Macaroni KID publishers are able to connect communities in a variety of ways and Kara's speed-friending event is such a great example of that," says Macaroni KID CEO Jamie Ratner. "It's really uplifting to see our publishers using their platforms for incredible community-building events. It makes a difference."
Kara was thrilled to see moms connecting at her event. She posted a picture on her Macaroni KID Fayetteville page, writing:
"By the end of the event, they were adding each other on Facebook, making plans for playdates or hiking together, and exchanging info. That makes me so happy!"
We're so proud of the ways Macaroni KID publishers like Kara Ault make an impact on their communities. Interested in finding out about joining our team and becoming a Macaroni KID publisher in your community? Get details at JoinMacaroniKID.com!
