The guests in this episode share their journey, from the solitary days in Fremont searching for mom friends to the laughter-filled nights that followed. Alongside the FUN (Fremont, Union City, Newark) Mothers Club's president, Darini, we explore the trials and triumphs of parenting, the personal growth that mirrors our community's development, and the sanctuary that support groups provide when the going gets tough.
But it's not all about the challenges; it's also about the joy that comes from shared experiences, like the hilarity of a game night gone awry or the collective wisdom exchanged over coffee. One new mother recounts how our club became her lifeline after moving from DC, painting a vibrant picture of the mental shifts and the longing for advice that resonates with every new parent. Through these stories, we celebrate the strength found in solidarity, demonstrating that it's the shared understanding and companionship that truly defines the FUN Mothers Club.
We highlight the events and volunteer efforts that stitch the fabric of this community even tighter. From comedy nights to educational expos, we explore how these gatherings do more than entertain—they forge bonds that last a lifetime. Each mother shares the impact of the collective efforts, marking calendar dates for upcoming club events that promise to enrich our lives far beyond the scope of parenthood. It's a tale of finding your tribe, nurturing connections, and the undeniable truth that while our little ones might bring us together, it's the enduring friendships and wisdom exchanged that keep us rooted.
To find out more about them, check out their website here.
You can also connect with them
Fremont Bank has been serving our community for over 60 year. Find out more about them in Episode 104 or on their website here.
Get 20% off on your first order at Minuteman Press in Fremont. Let them know you heard about them on the podcast.
Don't miss the Ohlone College Flea Market each month on the 2nd Saturday.
If you are interested in supporting the podcast, please reach out to us at thefremontpodcast@gmail.com, or you can contact us here.
The Ohlone College Flea Market takes place this month on April 13th. Don't miss it.
Fremont Bank is our newest sponsor. They have been partnering with and supporting people and small businesses for over six decades.
Also, Petrocelli Homes has been a key sponsor for the Fremont Podcast almost from the beginning. If you are looking for help or advice about buying or selling a home, or if you are looking for a realtor, get in touch with Petrocelli Homes on Niles Blvd in Niles.
Additionally, Banter Bookshop is the best little bookshop in Fremont. They are a sponsor of that podcast. And we are excited to have them as a partner.
If you are in need of services for design or printing, check out Minutemen Press in Irvington. They have been serving the community for over 20 years, and they stand strong by their work and service.
Intro and Outro voiceovers made by Gary Williams. Check out garywilliams.org.
This episode was edited by Andrew C.
Scheduling and background was done by Sara S.
This is a Muggins Media Podcast.
...The guests in this episode share their journey, from the solitary days in Fremont searching for mom friends to the laughter-filled nights that followed. Alongside the FUN (Fremont, Union City, Newark) Mothers Club's president, Darini, we explore the trials and triumphs of parenting, the personal growth that mirrors our community's development, and the sanctuary that support groups provide when the going gets tough.
But it's not all about the challenges; it's also about the joy that comes from shared experiences, like the hilarity of a game night gone awry or the collective wisdom exchanged over coffee. One new mother recounts how our club became her lifeline after moving from DC, painting a vibrant picture of the mental shifts and the longing for advice that resonates with every new parent. Through these stories, we celebrate the strength found in solidarity, demonstrating that it's the shared understanding and companionship that truly defines the FUN Mothers Club.
We highlight the events and volunteer efforts that stitch the fabric of this community even tighter. From comedy nights to educational expos, we explore how these gatherings do more than entertain—they forge bonds that last a lifetime. Each mother shares the impact of the collective efforts, marking calendar dates for upcoming club events that promise to enrich our lives far beyond the scope of parenthood. It's a tale of finding your tribe, nurturing connections, and the undeniable truth that while our little ones might bring us together, it's the enduring friendships and wisdom exchanged that keep us rooted.
To find out more about them, check out their website here.
You can also connect with them
Fremont Bank has been serving our community for over 60 year. Find out more about them in Episode 104 or on their website here.
Get 20% off on your first order at Minuteman Press in Fremont. Let them know you heard about them on the podcast.
Don't miss the Ohlone College Flea Market each month on the 2nd Saturday.
If you are interested in supporting the podcast, please reach out to us at thefremontpodcast@gmail.com, or you can contact us here.
The Ohlone College Flea Market takes place this month on April 13th. Don't miss it.
Fremont Bank is our newest sponsor. They have been partnering with and supporting people and small businesses for over six decades.
Also, Petrocelli Homes has been a key sponsor for the Fremont Podcast almost from the beginning. If you are looking for help or advice about buying or selling a home, or if you are looking for a realtor, get in touch with Petrocelli Homes on Niles Blvd in Niles.
Additionally, Banter Bookshop is the best little bookshop in Fremont. They are a sponsor of that podcast. And we are excited to have them as a partner.
If you are in need of services for design or printing, check out Minutemen Press in Irvington. They have been serving the community for over 20 years, and they stand strong by their work and service.
Intro and Outro voiceovers made by Gary Williams. Check out garywilliams.org.
This episode was edited by Andrew C.
Scheduling and background was done by Sara S.
This is a Muggins Media Podcast.
...It's hard. Even if you have friends that aren't mothers, it's a struggle to kind of relate to them.
Speaker 3:So I was really kind of going out of my way to find some mom friends, you know I was the first one of my friends to have a kid and so it was really hard to communicate, like some of my frustrations and like you know, because they just don't, they can't relate, and then if I say, do give you, they're not that great you know, I mean they're not going through it and they don't understand like you know some of those.
Speaker 4:I suddenly think that it's like kids, kids, kids, kids, kids. What about me?
Speaker 5:She took my number and she would keep texting me. Hey, do you want to catch up? She didn't have to do that and she showed me a kindness that I didn't know that I needed.
Speaker 2:Coming to you straight from Fremont, California. This is the Fremont podcast, dedicated to telling the stories of the past and present of the people and places of the city of Fremont, one conversation at a time.
Speaker 7:I am standing at America's sarriest bus stop, located in Fremont, with possibly some good news. In a 2017 article, this bus stop, located on Auto Mall and Technology Drive, was declared America's sarriest bus stop, and in a later article of 2021, the Mercury News said that nothing had been updated. Well, it's February of 2024 and there have been improvements. You can look at either of those two articles to see what it used to look like. But right now it is no longer a dirt patch in the middle of nowhere. It is a concrete patch in the middle of nowhere. It still has no protection from the elements, it still has no seating and it is still completely disconnected from any sidewalk. But if I stand here at the curb cut, I can take 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 steps before I reach the mud again.
Speaker 7:In the original article, there was some debate as to whether or not anyone actually used this bus stop. Some city officials and AC Transit representatives said that this bus stop had very low ridership, and countering that argument was every single person who used this bus stop to get home and to get to work. For what it's worth, here in February 2024, standing on asphalt watching three highway patrol trucks escorting an oversized load. It is nice to not be standing in mud and crossing the street to get here. There was a gentleman with a large white suitcase getting on the bus. Good luck in your travels. You are listening to episode 105 of the Fremont Podcast.
Speaker 2:Now here's your host, Ricky B.
Speaker 1:Awesome.
Speaker 5:Awesome.
Speaker 8:All right, here we go, we're going to get rolling. So this is fun. Literally, I am with four mothers who are part of the fun FUN Mothers Is it Mothers or Moms Club?
Speaker 5:Mothers.
Speaker 8:Mothers Club. Okay, and FUN stands for Fremont, union City, newark. Darini, yes, you said you were the president of this club. How long have you been a part of this?
Speaker 5:I have been a part of the club for more than seven years. I joined in March of 2016. I had a very small baby and I was going through the motions of not being able to talk to an adult. I needed company and a combination of one part of me said no, I don't need anybody else the mom guilt. On the other hand, I had to kind of look for myself and say I'm a caregiver, but I also need care.
Speaker 5:Yeah, that's right, Because growing up my mom was here helping me out, and growing up I never saw her take a break for anything. But when I had my child, my mental state was different and I had to. She was the reference that I had for a mom and she said she never took a break. Is it incorrect of me to want to take the time off? So I happened to speak to a couple of my friends who already had older kids and I got a very valuable insight from one of them who said kids will grow up, they will leave, but you have to take care of yourself.
Speaker 5:Oh, that's good. Read a book, go for a walk, meet somebody and never feel guilty for taking care of yourself, because at some point your child is going to leave for college, and then you will just sit here not knowing what to do. And that is something I saw my mother go through so I was like, okay, fair enough. So once I got out of that guilt factor, I happened to see a flyer for Fun Mother's Club at a baby and me program.
Speaker 5:I looked up the website and I actually asked on Nextdoor has anybody ever been part of this, because it was just a website, and another mom an ex like a former Fun Mom gave me a very valuable piece of advice right there. She said it's a wonderful club On Nextdoor, on Nextdoor. I got a very valuable response where she said I was part of this club. My kids have grown up, they are all in college, but I made friends there that I'm still in touch with now.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 5:I hope you can find the same, but remember that it's also the people that you meet.
Speaker 8:That's great.
Speaker 5:So she set the expectation for me. So when I joined the club I did not expect miracles to happen right from stage one and the first year I actually did not make any connections because it was not working.
Speaker 5:I couldn't meet the people, I couldn't connect with whoever. But then there was this mom I ended up meeting a couple of times and then, outside of the actual events that we host, like maybe the library or the grocery store, she took my number and she would keep texting me hey, do you want to catch up? She didn't have to do that and she showed me a kindness that. I didn't know that I needed yeah.
Speaker 5:And then she said why don't you just try for one more year and then you decide? And once I decided that part, she was so nice to keep me included and then I joined the board and then just I've just been on the board. Wow, ok, ok. So, and then we made friends. Our families became friends. Yeah. So even now, when my husband sees us, making connections he's like, I will always connect that with fun moms.
Speaker 8:Yeah.
Speaker 8:Because, that's where I met. That's awesome and that's that's. That's really great story. I love the fact that it's in these environments that you discover friendships, and I think it's so. I mean, that's that's one of the reasons why I created the podcast and I say this often, and if anybody listens often to this, they hear me say this a lot. I just want this to be a place where people that any barriers that are there that might exist that would keep us from getting to know each other. I just want to be able to help break those down or to introduce you know one person to another. So someone might be listening to this episode and thinking I'm in your place and I need a community like that and this is an introduction for them. So I think this is awesome. I think this is great. Michelle, yes, when did you join the Fun Mothers Club?
Speaker 1:So I just joined last year in June, so I've only been with the club about a little over a year year and a half. For me, you know, I just moved to Fremont in 2019 and I was pregnant. I had a baby March of 2020. So literally a true COVID baby, and I had a handful of friends that lived out in the Bay Area that also had babies. So I kind of thought initially that I was okay, but because of COVID and the inability to meet up and all of that, it was a struggle to have any mom friends. I think everybody suffered from that because of COVID, yeah. But then, due to COVID or all the related aspects, two of the three friends that I had moved away and so I was really craving some mom friends. I think being a mother is such a unique experience that it's hard, even if you have friends that aren't mothers it's a struggle to kind of relate to them.
Speaker 1:So I was really kind of going out of my way to find some mom friends and I started by joining some Facebook groups. Okay, and that's how I discovered FunMoms. Somebody mentioned something about FunMoms and there was a link and I, literally just from bed, clicked it. There was like a membership fee and I just was like I'm just going to give it a shot and I paid it and I saw that there was an event that same day, a game night, and I showed up. That's awesome, wow.
Speaker 8:And.
Speaker 1:I pretty much. I feel like I've gone to like 75% of the event. I like immediately became like a super active member and so it just felt right. I think, when you know elections came up for the new board, that I was like you know I really want to give back and do something to support a club that really brought me so much From a social perspective, from a relationship perspective.
Speaker 1:from a relationship perspective, but also just giving me opportunities to socialize my kids. I just had a second baby, so it's sort of perfect timing for me to kind of leverage having a new baby and relive that early stage with a crew of moms.
Speaker 8:That's awesome, that's great. So are you one of the officers then as well?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I'm on the board, but I'm focused on the kids and moms activity. Okay, coordinated events Awesome.
Speaker 8:So I'm kind of the kind of the organizational in the history of the club in just a minute, but I want to continue to get to know you guys. So, sandy, why don't you slide that microphone over? Yeah, so how did you find out about fun and how long have you been a part of it?
Speaker 4:Well, I knew about the club like a while back, like probably, like probably like 10 years. Okay. Or maybe eight years ago, eight, nine years ago, from another member which is still a current member. Okay, but I mean, I knew about the club but I have no intention of joining. So my purpose is actually a little different from most of our members. I joined the club because I am ready to join for me. Okay. I'm not getting connection for my kids.
Speaker 8:Okay.
Speaker 4:Yeah, Because my kids are already in the older you know, like 11 and 13. So I've been taking care for them. I thought that it is quite a while and I focused on them. I have, I mean, I found like a lot of activities on myself and I invited actually some of my friends or create playdates for my kids. Yeah. Yeah, so I don't need a club for that. I can do all that.
Speaker 4:Right, okay. But after they grow up it's like okay, and I suddenly think that it's like kids, kids, kids, kids kids. I mean yeah, I mean they are important part of my life, but at the same time it's like what about me, you know?
Speaker 2:so.
Speaker 4:I actually joined the Fence Mother Club for me to hang out with the other moms, but I don't want to hang out with some freshly graduate you know, yeah Well, there's a difference.
Speaker 8:I mean, I'm not a mom, obviously, but there's a difference between meeting just someone and being in different stages of life, having different experiences, not necessarily being able to connect on the same things, and then meeting somebody who is in your stage of life and who is going through a lot of the same experiences. There's a lot more commonalities to be able to have as a part of that bonding, of that relationship, which I think is important.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's right, that's great. So that's why right now I'm I'm not going to be a part of that, but right now I'm the I'm actually also taking care of the breakfast, which no kids involved. I mean I would say kids involved, but what I'm saying is it's mostly for the moms. It's mostly for the moms?
Speaker 8:Okay, because I want to hang out with the moms. That's great. Yeah, that's awesome, awesome, very good. Thanks for sharing. Sheila, when you slide that over, how are you? When did? You, you had a little bit of a cough there, that's all right, we all, we all get those. So when did you join the fun mothers club and how long have you been a part of it?
Speaker 3:I joined fun mothers club October of 2021. So at that point my son was like 10 months old, so I joined fun. I knew about fun mothers club because from the buy nothing group, so before, when I was pregnant, I was kind of nesting, you know. I was trying to get stuff for my house to get ready for the baby, Because I mean, I mean why, why not?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right, that's great.
Speaker 3:So I met a. I met a woman that was part of fun mothers club and she was part of the board and she just happened to like we were just talking for like an hour or about, like you know, she moved here from DC and she was telling me, hey, this is a great place to like, this is a great way to meet and network with other mothers. And you know, I was like, oh, okay, that sounds cool. And I didn't. You know, it kind of just stayed in the back of my mind while I had a newborn and I was just like, okay, well, I have other avenues to kind of event my things out. We had like mothers group things through Sutter health that I was like joining in and tapping and calling in. But you know, it was different. It's very different to have those zoom calls and actually talking to different mothers.
Speaker 3:And at the time, like he's still a COVID baby and like gatherings weren't like you know, getting together wasn't that often but it was, you know, I decided, okay, well, whatever, let me just take the plunge and let's just see what goes on. So I attended my first game night in October of that month and I was just like, oh, this is great. These are such really nice people. And then I brought my son and husband actually with me to that first event just to be like, okay, let's just see, this is like you know good fit to you know if you need to bail me out and pull me out of this place.
Speaker 8:Exactly, I need the extra help.
Speaker 3:Exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I needed the extra distraction. So and then, like you know, one of the moms actually brought a Telestrations game and my son was just playing with him and he ripped the book. I was like I am so sorry. I told him, I told all the mother. I'm so sorry. She's like oh, it's okay, it's okay. I was like oh, that's so nice.
Speaker 8:That's awesome. Yeah, that's awesome. Oh, it's great. So then you've been a part of it since then. I've been a part of it since then, yeah.
Speaker 3:And it's great because you know I was the first one of my friends to have a kid, and so it was really hard to communicate, like some of my frustrations and like you know, because they just don't, they can't relate, and then if I say, do give you, they're not that great you know, because they're not going through it and they don't understand like you know some of those postpartum emotional things that's going on and you're just at a different stage of life. I think, once I became a mom, like my mental has changed.
Speaker 8:That's right.
Speaker 3:And so I'm just I'm not I wouldn't say I'm more paranoid, but I'm more conscious about what my child is exposed to and what I want to take in as well, because I can't take in advice from people or Dr Facebook all the time.
Speaker 8:It just makes you paranoid, so that's right.
Speaker 3:So yeah, no, it's great to get like something that's relatable with other parents.
Speaker 8:Yeah, we'll be right back. You can hear the rest of this conversation in just a minute Moment, not a minute. Oh hey.
Speaker 7:I was looking up events that are coming up at banter bookshop to make this ad and there is one on February 27th, that's a Tuesday, at 7pm. The author Isabel Kamal is going to be there. She is an Iraqi Muslim historical romance author. Growing up in the Middle East, she had very little access to romance novels, but once she got ahold of one she never looked back. You know you like romance novels. You should go. That's not the point of this ad. Banter bookshop has story times for kids Thursdays, saturdays. They seem to be at 1030am. You should go. If you're listening to this, on the ninth, it's tomorrow on the 10th, at 1030. There's also one on the 15th, which is a Thursday. There's also one on the 17th, which is a Saturday, also 1030. These are great banter bookshop In downtown Fremont. Take the kids, you should go.
Speaker 8:If you need help navigating the local real estate market, contact Petracelli Homes on Niles Boulevard. With almost two decades of experience, this family owned brokerage is an expert in the local real estate market. Give Jennifer Petracelli a call. With her wide ranging knowledge of the real estate industry and expert negotiation skills, Jennifer goes above and beyond for her clients. Jennifer helps her clients make smart real estate decisions that benefit them in the long run. So if you're looking for a realtor who knows what they're doing and who genuinely cares about your needs and wants, reach out to Jennifer today and discover why Petracelli Homes is the right choice for all of your real estate needs. And now back to our conversation.
Speaker 3:So, yeah, no, it's great to get something that's relatable with other parents. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 8:I mean, we just had a 16 month old. We have a 16 month old. So my wife is in a similar situation where she I mean, we have 11 year old and then we couldn't have kids for nine years. We were actually looking at adopting or becoming foster parents and then, lo and behold, we had a COVID baby as well, and so now we have a 16 month old, but even going from like we've been through this before, but there's a whole new set of issues that with the second one, and it's like she struggles with knowing are we doing the right thing? Is this a good choice? Is this normal? And so I know that having people to be able to talk to that are in the same place stage of life, and not just through text messages but in real life, is really important, so that's really good. I think she would like you guys.
Speaker 6:So I think maybe if she should, you should ask for the answer. There you go.
Speaker 2:That'd be great.
Speaker 8:So someone tell me, who would be able to tell me about the history, how long the club has existed, darini?
Speaker 5:Yes, thank you.
Speaker 8:Not the new kids obviously. Madam president, yeah.
Speaker 5:So, based on what I've read up, the group was started in 1991 by a group of few moms and I believe originally long back, it was called the Newark Mothers Club. So what I believe is it slowly started expanding and then eventually, maybe moms in the Stricity area started joining and it felt like a good way to incorporate all the city names and it also creates a fun. It actually created a word which represented the group. So, yes, the club has been in existence since 1991. And it has slowly moved towards becoming more formal. When I joined, it was a 501C7. I know nonprofits have different categories and in 2016, we became a 501C3 nonprofit.
Speaker 8:Wow, that's awesome. And yeah, so it's been around since the 90s. I mean that's pretty cool. I mean I told you before we started recording. But I told you that I found out about this club through Amy Davis, who's at Bantor Book. She's the owner there. I've interviewed her for the podcast before. I was in there looking for something for my son and I started just mentioning something about mothers and kids and she's like oh, have you interviewed the Fun Mothers Club yet? And I was like no, I've never heard of them. And so then the employee that she had working there with her. She's like we met at the Fun Mothers Club and we've been friends for many years together and I think both of their kids are either in high school or maybe even in college, so they were a part of it a long time ago. But I had no idea that this existed. And I mean I've only lived here for nine years, so it's not like I would have been around since the 90s and not heard about it.
Speaker 1:I'm also not a mom. I'm also not a mom. I'm also not a mom. That's right. Not the target audience.
Speaker 5:I think right now, social media is a very active way to know about it. Sometimes all the information that we want is just there. We just don't know what to look for. So one of the best ways, I think, to find out is a typical Google search. That's some of the answers we have received, even when we have asked members. It's either through word of mouth, Yelp, Facebook it's really popular or standard Google search, depending on what the mom wanted to. If they were actively looking for a community to join, then they have found us. So it's a combination of probably hearing by chance and also necessity.
Speaker 5:And priority is what you're looking for at that moment.
Speaker 8:How many mothers are part of this club?
Speaker 5:We currently are on 74.
Speaker 8:Wow, wow, that's great. And then, yeah, so tell me a little bit about the structure of it. So there's a membership I heard someone talk about a membership fee and then what kind of activities are planned, what kind of rhythms Like, is it a weekly thing, or how often are you guys meeting?
Speaker 5:So we try to do four to five events a month. Ok.
Speaker 5:One of most of them are in-person. During COVID we had to do everything online, but now over the last year it's slowly started coming and we try to do variety. One is like weekday morning coffee or breakfast, sandy hosts, and we welcome kids, moms. We also say bring in a guest. That you know, because that was one thing that when we were at events representing the club, when we had a booth, people would say is there any way I can attend one event and figure out if this works for me.
Speaker 8:See if I like it.
Speaker 5:So this has proved to be really popular. That is one, and the other one is a mom's night out. It can be any event. This we are doing a stand-up. We are meeting at a stand-up comedy event this week. Last month we did a lunch. So it's been a variety of things We've done movie nights, we've done dinners and it is usually in the night. It's usually on a Friday or a. Saturday which makes we also did a karaoke event, wow, a few months ago. So that's awesome.
Speaker 5:Yeah, and we do game nights, seasonal game nights when we have time. We also do speaker events. It's sometimes monthly, sometimes seasonal, depending on whether we have a person for that, but the reason and we also have mom and kids outings, which is more focused about what kids might want to do, but we try to cover different people, age groups, so there is multiple opportunities for members to come in get a chance to interact and personally, I feel, depending on the event, I have seen a very different personality of the person.
Speaker 2:Game nights are goofy. Seriously, we are very goofy.
Speaker 5:It's very fun Mom's night out. If it's a dinner, I'm having a conversation. If it's karaoke. I am screaming my lungs out.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:And I didn't know, somebody else?
Speaker 1:The moms really let their hair down. Yeah, that's awesome they were just dancing in that room.
Speaker 5:No inhibitions. And then at the breakfast I can probably have a serious one-on-one conversation and then say, hey, do you want to meet up later? Let's continue this conversation, so you never know at what level you're going to connect with someone. So I think these variety of events actually gives you that option to do it.
Speaker 8:Yeah, I love that, and it gives you the option to do it. It also gives you the freedom to say we're all in this together. We're all able to do this. I know for my wife. She loves karaoke and I think that she would love to be a part of something like that, because she doesn't get to do that often. At the same time, she also loves the deep conversations, and so I can imagine how those pay off for various people. Maybe one of you answered for me. Has there been a special moment, like you talked about the one mother that connected with you, that texted you and encouraged you to do it a second year. How about the rest of you? You guys have a special moment or a special thing that hooked you, that made it. You're like these are my people, this is the group that I want to be a part of, and this was the hook that you needed to say this is what I need.
Speaker 4:That's right. I knew about the club eight, nine years ago but I didn't join. But actually I'm quite a recent member, probably like one and a half year, but starting when I joined, that's the month that I become a treasurer. I jump right in Because that time I was focusing on myself. So I want to do for this Well, I connect with the members right away. Well, because the other member who talked about me, about the club, eight, nine years ago it was actually. I mean, we are close.
Speaker 8:Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 4:Because of this too. So it's already someone we know and right away I found really tight connection with Darini and she's the board member. That time she was the treasurer and it's like, oh man, I can't hang out with these people all the time. I have no problem, let's whatever event. For me it's a chance to meet friends.
Speaker 8:That's great. So Well, you had an objective too. I mean, part of the reason that you joined was to take care of yourself Exactly, and so when you got there, you kind of knew what you were looking for and you were like welcome, do I feel taken care of? And then you saw it, and then you're like this is going to be a way that I can enter into this club and make the most of it. Right, that's right. Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 4:And I hope my experience having a more older kids can actually valuable for the club Because I have two kids, boys and girls, so I have that two genders, and I have like infant experience, toddler up to teenager problem. And again, I mean a lot of times that people thought that the club is for new moms but it's not you know I mean. Even when you have a 35 years old son, you are still a mother.
Speaker 8:That's right, that's right. You know my mom is still a mom. That's right, that's right.
Speaker 4:So even a grandma, you have a grandson, you're still a mom.
Speaker 8:Yeah, I'm gonna throw the question out there. So I mean, is anybody excluded? Like if somebody comes in and they have a 35 year old mom? I mean, are they no?
Speaker 1:I think just that they're moms. Yeah, I think somebody had mentioned there was like a people asking if they could join and they weren't moms. Oh. Was it Annie that mentioned that? I don't remember Somebody. We were like that's probably where we need to draw the line that's right, that's right.
Speaker 5:Yeah, because most likely they wouldn't get what they're expecting, that's right, that's right, michelle.
Speaker 8:what about you? Did you have a moment that was helpful for you, or?
Speaker 1:So I was gonna say I don't think there was any specific moment for me. I had a similar experience with Sheila. Like my first event was game night and I just immediately was like these people are so nice and welcoming and I felt like it was intimate enough that I didn't. I didn't know what to expect. When I showed up. I was half expecting there to be like 30 people and like me, just sort of like being a wallflower, but I felt like it was a small enough group that you know. I felt engaged and welcomed but I didn't feel pressured.
Speaker 1:And I just sort of immediately got along with everybody. And you know, I agree, I think when I started I was really looking for activities to help me entertain my toddler at the time and what I found was actually just like a group of cool moms that I could. But I also could like what I loved about it. What made it really sticky for me was just this consistent flow of events.
Speaker 1:So one night it would be moms hanging out for games and the next night it would be, you know, a play date with you know your kids and so I got basically everything. There's also family events where you can bring your husband and all your kids and all the families meet. So it was just a great like so many different facets that it satisfied for me and I didn't expect to. Basically as soon as I joined, I just started go.
Speaker 1:I was like every event was like oh, that looks interesting that looks interesting and I just went to almost all of them, and soon, you know, it doesn't take long for you to kind of start. I started seeing the same moms over and over again and before you know it, you just like feel like super familiar, like you've known these people your whole life. So I mean, it was no particular moment just this like consistent, a consistency of opportunities to get together for various reasons.
Speaker 8:And I found all of them really valuable. I think, yeah, that's great. I think that there is something about like, if you start making something a habit or a regular part of your life, and then you are a part of it for a little while and then you step away from it, you're like you can't imagine yourself. Well, that's kind of like part of who I am right now. That's part of that. Those are. That's a part of my life now and I can't, I can't leave that. You know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and what I will say is like as a mom for me, as a first time mom it's like very easy to get lost in focusing on your child and then and it's almost like I just needed an excuse or somebody to be like, hey, let's do this. Hey you should do that and like pulled me into and out of sort of like my narrow focus on my kid to kind of like expand and giving me just an option of something to do every week or two, it was great.
Speaker 8:That's awesome. That's very cool. Sheila, did you have a particular moment, a hook moment, for you?
Speaker 3:I think that same thing. To echo what Michelle was saying, a lot of like consistent events kind of kept me kind of coming around like because I got to see the same familiar faces all the time I wasn't. I'm not the type of person that falls in love. It's up to you immediately I need to that needs to grow organically.
Speaker 3:Yeah yeah, then needs to grow organically with me. So it was great to just have four or five events and you could pick. I mean, like, obviously you could come to the ones you can come to right, depending on your schedule but, I was able to come to quite a few. Once we started picking up a lot more events after kind of COVID kind of died down and I was like, oh man, I love these girls.
Speaker 6:I get to see all of the same girls all the time.
Speaker 3:Like I'm like this is awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it was great.
Speaker 3:And like, and I love that we have mothers of different stages in life because, like every like you know, we have Sandy here who has, you know, preteens right. We had Daru here, who has like a child right, and Michelle and I both have toddlers and it's great to get perspective from other you know other moms of different stages. You're like, oh okay, I don't feel have to feel so lost.
Speaker 2:Cause.
Speaker 3:I've seen other moms clubs, not in Fremont but like other moms' homes in other cities, where, like their membership stops at five. But I'm like, but you're so lost after, like they go to kindergarten. I'm like, what about when they go to go through puberty?
Speaker 8:I'm like.
Speaker 3:I don't know what to do with this kid, that's right so it's nice to like lean on someone, and so sometimes you need people that you're comfortable with to share those raw and dirty moments with and to get, and that's how you bond yeah.
Speaker 8:Well, fremont, fremont and Union City, newark, it's. I mean, we're kind of a place where a lot of people come from like hardly anybody lives here there. There there are some people because I've interviewed them, but they're hardly anybody lives here anymore that actually grew up here or that have you know, that have been a part of this community for a long time and so you come in from, you know wherever it is that you grew up, into a place where it's it's you know it's a new community, it's a new stage of life, new experiences, and you do want something you can trust. You do want something that you feel welcome and a part of something that feels familiar, like, and I think, and even just the idea of being a familiar, the familiarity that comes with being a mom, when you engage with another mom, is something that feels natural and normal.
Speaker 1:It's immediate for sure.
Speaker 8:Yeah, yeah, so so. So I'm sure you kind of schedule your stuff at different places around the area. Do you have a general location that operates as kind of like the office or the headquarters or anything like that, or is it kind of like we just have a PO box?
Speaker 5:And I have to kind of stress on the fact that it's a completely 100% volunteer run. So all of us here are just volunteering our time and effort to keep this community going, because years of you know members before us have kept it going. So we do not have a physical office, so we just pick spaces for us to meet up.
Speaker 8:And then I know that you guys, it seems like each of you found out about this club differently, like next door and Facebook or wherever. But if people are interested in having more information, like where would they go? I know that it seemed you were saying the social media seems to be kind of like a connecting point.
Speaker 5:Yes, we do have an official email address. So, we have got requests saying I found you here, Can I know more about the club? And then I provide them with the information.
Speaker 7:When I was younger, sitting in the back seat of my parents' car, waiting at a red light, waiting to turn left, I would see a stream of cars passing by themselves also making a left, and because we were all the way over, you could see their faces as they went by. And even back in the 80s and 90s I sometimes thought it was strange that I never saw a face that I knew, that apparently there were so many people in Fremont that a giant stream of cars could pass me by and not one of them was someone that I knew and that was in the 80s and 90s. It is 2024 and that disconnect has clearly gotten worse. And while this podcast cannot guarantee that you will recognize people by sight, wouldn't it be nice to get to know the people in this town, one conversation at a time? We would like to continue to make this podcast. We are not gonna be able to do it without your support and that is not some unending NPR joke. We are not gonna be able to keep making this podcast without your support.
Speaker 7:If you can afford $1 a month on a reoccurring basis, please use the link in the show notes Buymeacoffeecom. Slash the Fremont podcast. Slash membership $1 a month from even half our listeners, we will be fine. Hope to see you while you make a left. Thank you.
Speaker 8:So what events do you guys have coming up, like what do you have between now and the end of the year, or what do you have at the end of the year?
Speaker 5:we have. We are actually meeting up for a comedy, stand-up comedy night.
Speaker 8:Oh, where's that gonna be?
Speaker 5:This is.
Speaker 8:What is?
Speaker 5:it, the clubhouse. Okay yeah yeah, we're just gonna meet there and have fun, okay, on November, on Thursday, at the end of the month, I wrote it.
Speaker 8:I sprung this all on you.
Speaker 5:It's a speaker event. It's open to the public. It's term at the title is how to optimize your social security. Okay so there is a registered social security agent who will be speaking. It's going to be online on zoom okay and who's going to be speaking about what social security is. How is it? How can help you optimize your retirement and that's great how to go about that. And in December we have mom's lunch, we have kids outing ice skating and I'm also hosting and outing with at the discovery children's Discovery Museum.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah so I thought it was also worth noting that you know, we the club, because it's a nonprofit and we do collect membership fees, but a lot of those that money we use to subsidize these events. So, for example, like I'm hosting this event for the museum and we're subsidizing the cost of the tickets, Wow so you, there is a membership fee, but it does kind of you get it back when you participate.
Speaker 8:That's great. Yeah, so I mean yeah, and so something like that Would there be. I mean, are the membership fees enough to cover for these sorts of things, or you?
Speaker 1:guys do fundraising, okay, in addition, I think I'll have she'll explain the event which is coming up for us.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so, like one of the fundraising, for example, we have like. We have like an annual fundraising event which is well the previous. It's going to be Kids educational fair okay but we just recently we just changed the name. We were Previously known as a preschool fair, so a lot of Fremont communities knows us like all the farm moms is always holds thing the preschool fair. Okay, but as you know, being the mom is not just when your kids are pretty right, right right right.
Speaker 4:So we want to to cover not just preschoolers but also All the kids ages until like 12, you know, because they still need school they still need to Go to some activities extra after school activities and things like that. So we change the name to kids educational. Expo okay that annual fundraiser is usually happened, like in February, so 24th, and and that's when we have like the vendors, I guess, like schools or after schools of vendors, like open up a booth and it's open to the public. Okay, so, yeah, so the fundraising, comes with.
Speaker 8:People get tickets to come to the event and to go.
Speaker 4:No, actually the we we offer free to the public, but it's the vendor that we try to call all right. Yeah, it's a marketing opportunity for all the kids programs and Childcare for them to market themselves to the community.
Speaker 1:Okay, and so they pay to be a part of it.
Speaker 8:That's great, that's right, yeah, and where will that? Be held.
Speaker 4:It will be held in the Kim Kimber School. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, nice.
Speaker 8:Very good. Was there an event that you were gonna talk about, or I was it, that was it, I'm hosting it this year.
Speaker 3:Oh, you're hosting it.
Speaker 8:So you, you share the, you share those responsibilities then, or yeah, so we have a committee.
Speaker 3:That that's helping to put this organ got this event together so we have someone that's running the maps. We like the map of the event.
Speaker 3:Yeah we have someone doing like the registration forms. I'll be coordinating with the schools so to reaching out to them. We try to get donations from the community to kind of get them together. So it's a it's a huge effort. This is our one fundraiser that we have a year, which is this is just my way of giving back to the club. That's given back so much for me and I personally am a type of person that likes to just work on one really big project, so I'm excited about this. So if anyone listening, yes, please come yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know, like Sandy was just mentioning, we are targeting. We traditionally have, yes, targeted mostly preschools, but we're this year we're trying to target other programs that you know that hit the preschool age to like tweens, and really that makes sense because if you have multiple children, usually they're within, like you know, within that age gap together so that way, the parents don't feel like, okay, well, I'm not getting anything out of it for my other child.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know so this is we're excited about this event. Um, we just had a really really late zoom meeting about it last night. So I mean, like you know, we do care I know, you know yeah like Michelle was saying yes, it's there to subsidize. You know, sure, subsidize some of the events. But it's also there, you know, for us to get our name out there.
Speaker 8:That's great. So, yeah, that's great. Wow, very good. So is there anything else that would just be really important for people to know about with this? I mean, we've talked about a lot already. Um, is there anything specific or anything that comes to mind that would be Just really helpful for anyone listening. I.
Speaker 5:Have something to add, yeah, to that. I think we talk about events and we tell people come and join us. I want to put it across that it depends on how you see it. The events are there because we want to create an opportunity For people to come and meet. Hmm. But the club is not just there as an entertainment.
Speaker 8:That's right yeah.
Speaker 5:It's the reason why we do it is because I think the board or the club members who have been there all these years have figured out that once you create more opportunities it'll get people together. But that would be a Really good way to get a lot out of the club. Hmm. If you see it a way to actually make connections. And not think of it as oh, let me be entertained.
Speaker 8:That's right. That's right. Yeah, so it's not just a common, you know. Look, you know, I'll just take, take it in and sit back and yeah, it's Engaging. You're not gonna get you get out of it what you put into it, I guess, yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's really more like a platform. I think it took me a few months to figure that out as well. It's like I found myself being like, oh, why don't we have more events for babies? Why don't we have more events for toddlers? And then it was kind of like people were like well, you can host an event for babies and toddlers and I'm like I can. So I think that's kind of you know, something that is also interesting. It's like you can join and just come to existing events, but if you, if there's an event that you really want to see, like we welcome volunteers to help Contribute as well, and people are free to do that, so it's not just like a one-way.
Speaker 8:Awesome. That's awesome, very cool. I love it. This is really great. I am excited to learn about this and share it with our community, and I'm excited to talk about it with my wife as well.
Speaker 1:I think she's a really good guy. Yeah, we look forward to meeting her at the next cocktail.
Speaker 8:Yeah, so like, yeah, so she. I just I'll send her to the website, I guess, and she'll be able to see what's going on there.
Speaker 1:I just wanted to add that if people are interested in joining, as Joreenie mentioned, we have a website. It's funmotherscluborg. Nice and you can find us on Facebook. You can find us on Instagram. We have official profiles, so feel free to reach out.
Speaker 3:That's awesome and we have a app that we use up, like for members. It's wild apricot, but we use that and I find it was a great way just to like keep track of some events yeah usually a lot of them come in email form, but it's just nice to have one thing to like look at for me and just kind of just say I can attend these.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we have a, and we have a what's up chat?
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 1:That's the way I find out what's going on the what's up.
Speaker 4:It's really good connection to people. Thanks for that. So it's like so.
Speaker 1:Even so it's like so you don't have to wait for these events to meet people you can like just yeah, people are done and say I'm taking a hike tomorrow.
Speaker 4:That's. Anyone want to join this right or?
Speaker 1:people will like ask questions. How do? You sleep, train a six month oh.
Speaker 5:Like right now you know.
Speaker 4:Like right now, you know so we just like have like a conversation. So no, having having that, it's like you have like always have all these moms to back you up, yeah that's awesome.
Speaker 8:Yeah, I love it. That's great. Well, um, all of the things that you guys shared will put in the show notes. So any links, email the website, social media and stuff will put links to that in the show notes and ladies, thank you so much for joining, joining me on the podcast today. Really have enjoyed this very much and I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing more about what you're, what you're doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thank you for having us.
Speaker 2:This episode was hosted and produced by Ricky B.
Speaker 8:I'm Gary Williams hardly anybody lives here anymore that Actually grew up here or that have that. You know that have been a part of this community For a long time and so Andrew Kovett is the editor.
Speaker 2:Scheduling and pre interviews by Sarah s. If you would please leave a review on iTunes. Your reviews help other people find this podcast. Be sure to subscribe wherever it is that you listen so you don't miss an episode. You can find everything we make the podcast and all of our social media links at the Fremont podcast com. Join us next week on the Fremont podcast.
Speaker 7:Microphone that I actually got recently from a neighbor. It was a really interesting backstory. What were they doing with it? He would. He got it from a neighbor of his who Was a news reporter or one of the local TV stations, who had passed away a few years ago, and he just so. Now I get to report with some legacy group gear.
Speaker 3:Okay, this is a Muggins media podcast.