Wanting friends is not taking something from your child
Almost every mother we speak to says a version of the same sentence: I feel bad leaving them for two hours just to see people.
That sentence deserves examination, because the arithmetic behind it is wrong.
The short answer
A mother with two or three reliable friendships nearby is measurably steadier, and her child benefits from that steadiness far more than from the two extra hours of supervision. Social contact is not a reward for finishing motherhood. It is part of the equipment.
Where the guilt actually comes from
It rarely comes from the child. It comes from an internal standard that counts hours of presence and ignores quality of presence, and from the invisibility of the mother's own needs in the family ledger.
The postponement trap
When you wait until the children are older, you arrive at that point with no network, out of practice, and with fewer natural places to meet people. The window does not reopen on its own.
How Alma Circle works
You answer one questionnaire about where you live, the age of your children and the season you are in. We compose a circle of five mothers who live close to each other and are going through something comparable.
Your circle starts in a private WhatsApp group, agrees on a moment together, and meets in a real place. Then it keeps meeting, because the same five women stay together.
- One questionnaire, no swiping and no public profile
- Five mothers, matched on proximity, life stage and season
- A private group first, a real gathering second
- One questionnaire, then we set the day, the hour and the place
Can I come to a gathering with my baby?
Yes when the circle is composed of mothers with babies under one, which is common. Otherwise gatherings are for the mothers, and the circle decides together.
What exactly is an Alma circle?
A circle of five mothers who live near each other, matched on the age of their children and the season they are going through. The circle starts in a private group chat and then meets in person, and the same five women keep meeting.
How much does it cost?
You answer the questionnaire, we compose your circle and set the day, the hour and the place. Food and drinks at a gathering are not included.
How long does it take to get matched?
It depends on how many mothers have joined near you. A circle needs at least four mothers in the same area and life stage, so density decides the timing rather than a fixed delay.
Do I have to bring my child?
Gatherings are for the mothers by default. Circles of mothers with babies under one often choose to come with their baby, and the circle decides.