10+ Great Ways to Meet Mom Friends in the Upstate

The Mom Walk Collective

In over 350 cities across the world, moms gather with their strollers to simply meet each other and go on a walk together at least twice a month. With a couple ice breaker questions at the beginning, moms are usually paired up to walk alongside a mom they haven’t met before to meet friends and create community. Emily Jones, founder of the Greenville chapter, often works with local businesses to sponsor each walk – sometimes offering giveaways or discounts to those who attend – haircuts, smoothies, coffee, physical therapy services, etc. Moms of all ages and in all stages are encouraged to join. Every month, a new calendar is posted with each event on Instagram.

Cost: FREE
Find and follow your local chapter below:
TheMomWalkCo.Greenville
TheMomWalkCo.Landrum
TheMomWalkCo.Spartanburg
TheMomWalkCo.Anderson

And for working moms, founder Destini Pratt decided to create a similar mom walk community (Greenville Stroller Society) that hosts events exclusively during non-work hours (evenings and weekends).

Stroller Workout Classes

Staying fit as a mom can be really challenging. You may feel that your babies are too young for a gym daycare or maybe their separation anxiety just won’t allow it. Luckily, several cities host stroller workout classes for a small fee where you bring your own mat and bring your kids. An instructor leads the exercises, and everyone understands if you take a break to hand a small child some snacks or actually use your baby as a 20 pound weight instead of your dumbbells.

Jessica Mort, founder of the Greenville Stroller Strong group, says it’s “more than a workout — it’s community”. She is a certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism Coach, and designs workouts for every stage of motherhood. Beyond workouts, they also host moms nights, family events, and fun things to keep the community connected.

Stroller Strong– Greenville Area

The MomCo, Previously Moms of Pre-Schoolers (MOPS)

Another great resource for moms is the International MomCo group, previously known as Moms of Pre-Schoolers or MOPS. There are several local chapters in the Upstate. The Administrators of each local chapter will offer a variety of events like regularly scheduled meetings, monthly play dates, and mom’s night/day out. Some chapters meet in the mornings, others share dinner together in the evenings. A few offer childcare. MomCo groups do occasionally require yearly dues of around $40, but more information can be found by contacting the specific groups.

Here are a few local Chapters:
Greenville MomCo – Buncombe Street United Methodist Church
The MomCo of Greer at Airport Baptist Church – FB Page
Easley MomCo at Community Bible Church – FB Page
Easley MomCo at Mt Carmel Baptist Church –  FB Page
Boiling Springs First Baptist Church
Find your nearest MomCo chapter HERE.

Third Place Coffee House

Celine Griffin, owner of Third Place Coffee House, recently became a mom and has started a tradition of “Moms on Mondays” at her shop where moms with young children meet anywhere from 9-11 am, receive 25% off a drink, and socialize with others. Their front and backyard outdoor spaces are perfect for toddlers to run around with balls or have snacks on picnic tables. The indoor areas are also super cute.

Facebook and Instagram Groups

Peanut App

Did you ever wonder if there could be a “dating-style” app for meeting mom friends? Introducing: Peanut. This left and right swiping app allows you to connect with moms in your area based on interests, kids’ ages, religion, etc. Once you are connected and exchange some messages, you can begin to schedule playdates and meetups!

Parks & Playgrounds

Another great way to connect with other moms is while you’re following your kid around at the park! Don’t be shy. It’s easy to start up a conversation with another mom by asking her how old her child is or if they come to this park often. Before you know it, you might be exchanging numbers to make the next playground meeting more intentional. 

Check out Kidding Around’s guide to parks with playgrounds in the Upstate. For Spartanburg families, Tyger River Park is a very popular playdate destination and a great place to make friends.

Classes for Mom

The New Mom School offers classes based on breastfeeding, infant care, birthing, parenting toddlers, and more. An 8-week class series can cost around $275. But, some events are free to introduce you to other moms in the community.

Mom League Greenville offers an 8-week series of classes for moms with newborns (0-12 months at the start of the series) for about $350.

Organizations with Baby/Toddler Classes and Events

Finally, a multitude of organizations offer free and paid classes or events for young children. Moms accompany their kids to these events and often end up chatting with each other. 

• Most libraries offer story times and sing-along classes. Here’s our list of local story times for kids.
• A few Chick Fil-A locations offer toddler time singing and crafts. The Chick-Fil-A on Wade Hampton in Taylors hosts twice a month. The Chick-Fil-A at Hillcrest in Spartanburg hosts a weekly story & craft time. Check with your local franchise to see what activities they organize for kids.
• The Bunny Hive puts on several baby and toddler classes like “baby massage,” “baby music,” and “exploratory play.” Drop-in classes are around $39, but they also offer bundled multi-class packages.
• Schools that teach about things like music, dance, and swimming often have classes for smaller kids. Check out our list of baby and toddler classes around town.
• Indoor play spaces or trampoline/rock-climbing parks will generally offer a specific time for children under a certain age to play. Check out our list of 7+ toddler times in Greenville.

Know of any other ways to meet moms around town? Comment below and let us know!