If you are a mom in Shanghai and don’t know about Shanghai Mamas, then you may be a bit out of the loop. These women are totally in the know and can tell you all their tips and tricks for surviving motherhood in a foreign land.
The group was created about 10 years ago by a few expat moms living in Shanghai, and at the time it was just a simple Yahoo group. Melanie Ham, one of the founders, explains, “We were formed on the back of a play group of moms that met every Friday. In the early 2000s Yahoo groups were really in and we grew by word of mouth organically. By the first year we had a couple hundred women and we discussed the ups and downs of expat life online.”
It’s safe to say this group has grown exponentially since and is now a full-blown online forum giving advice to about 7,000 moms all over the city. They have also created a committee structure of volunteers that changes every year as the natural rotation of families comes in and out of Shanghai. Jenny Whitaker, current Shanghai Mamas president explains, “That’s the thing – businesses and people come and go here — and through Shanghai Mamas we can keep passing the torch. We are always trying to get different voices involved in order to hear what new arrivals need to get out of [the group].”
Shanghai Mamas is not only critical for moms currently living in Shanghai, but is a great resource for families who are preparing for their big move. Whitaker says, “We really help people before they come to Shanghai to find out what it’s like for families living here. [For these moms], the most important questions are always: ‘Where do I live?’ and ‘What do I do about the pollution?’”
The online forum is their bread and butter and it’s an easy way for moms to post questions while other members can respond and give advice. Membership is exclusive and is limited to only foreign moms or local moms with foreign spouses, catering specifically to the expat lifestyle. In addition to the website, small groups of women throughout the city have developed brunch and lunch groups within their neighborhoods.
Over the years, the website has really made an impact on the experiences of moving to Shanghai for mothers from all walks of life. Laetitia Lemin, who has been in Shanghai just shy of a year, explains, “Before I moved here I was on the website and asking all the standard questions. When I first arrived — literally on day two — I went to one of the organized coffee mornings because I was in a really anxious phase, and that was reassuring; I realized I was going to be just fine. From there I wanted to get embedded in the community early on and started volunteering with the group and everyone was super welcoming.” Now Lemin serves on the committee and has become completely comfortable in this new home of hers.
While the forum is the backbone of the group, their mission is more than just helping moms survive with daily tasks; it is also about being a support and assisting the parent community. Whitaker adds, “There is a lot of support for people who are trying new things, reinventing themselves and really helping people thrive here. It is such a welcoming community; I’ve never felt that anyone in the Shanghai Mamas groups was unfriendly.”
They aren’t sure what the future holds for the group, but they are certain that they will adapt to their members’ constantly changing needs. In the end, it’s all about moms supporting moms.
Learn more at shanghaimamas.org
