SPOKANE, Wash. — Motherhood can be a vulnerable time.
It’s rewarding, but it comes with a massive disruption to a mother’s life, which can leave her lonely and isolated.
A network of moms in the Spokane area have found a remedy in their mutual companionship. They’ve joined a movement, the Mom Walk Collective, that started in 2019 by a Jamie Easton in Huntington Beach, California.
Easton created the collective, which invites moms to walk, socialize and do activities together, to help moms find comfort and friendship in a vulnerable part of their lives. The idea exploded and went national.
“It definitely takes a village and I feel like we are doing what we need to do to build that village here in Spokane,” Destiney Martin, ambassador for The Mom Walk Collective, said. “We just want everyone to come and just feel included and seen and wanted. Motherhood can just be so lonely, and so we just hope coming to these walks that they feel welcomed.”
If the Spokane moms who took part in the local chapter’s walk on Feb. 22 are any indication, it’s working.
“It just feels less isolating,” Jennifer Wilkins said. “Motherhood has definitely felt like there’s so many other people doing it, but you definitely have to find the community of people that are out there. It definitely is a great way to just get out and know that other people in the same stages of life or just having a reason to tell a friend hey let’s meet up, go to the walk.”
It’s particularly helpful for moms who moved to the Spokane area recently.
“We are not from here originally, so we don’t know anybody, so it’s been a nice way to meet people and meet other moms with similar aged children,” Candice Livoti said.
And it can be a gamechanger for moms who feel timid to get out of the house after giving birth.
“As intimidating as it can feel to… get out of the house, newly for me postpartum and what not, this is just an easy opportunity to come, maybe not even knowing anybody, but then coming and meeting and making new friends,” Wilkins said. “It’s just very accessible, easy and a very welcoming community.”
“It’s just really nice to have other moms who are like, ‘Oh yeah I went through that too,'” Livoti said. “It’s just really nice to be a part of something like that.”
“And for any mom that’s scared to come because they don’t know anybody, just please know that you will be welcomed with open arms, and we will make you feel super comfortable here,” Martin said.
