Interviewing New Moms




Objective(s) and Context

  1. Explore the changes that can occur as a result of becoming a new mom.

  2. Increase awareness about motherhood, both the challenges and rewards.

  3. Examine different types of social situations that new moms are creating.

 

Mothers, particularly those who are raising children in social situations that are not considered “normal” are often portrayed negatively. The exercise of interacting directly with mothers from a variety of situations aims at helping the participants think past those negative stereotypes.

By having an opportunity to converse with new moms, the participants can engage with the “actual experience and knowledge,” and not just discuss this topic theoretically. This is a very effective way enabling them to see what having a baby in their lives would really involve.

 

Duration

1 hour

 

Group Size

10–20

Note: it is recommended that 2 or 3 new moms participate as resource persons depending on the size of the group.

 

Age Group

10 +

 

Skills

Critical thinking, writing, and communication skills

 

Format(s) and Technique(s)

Interviewing and large group discussion

 

Materials and Resource Person(s)

Flip chart paper

Markers

Note pads

Pencils

Invite 2 or 3 new moms with children under 6-months old to address the issues of motherhood

 

Facilitation Tips

  • It is important to invite new moms that may come from a local community centre or organization.

  • New moms who agree to do the activity should feel comfortable and self-aware about sharing their stories. Participating in the workshop should not leave any new mom with negative feelings about the experience.

  • It important that motherhood not be romanticized, idealized or presented in a negative light. Mom programs will likely have some analysis that will not glorify, insult, or present a skewed perception regarding socio-economic status and the mothers’ life.

  • One suggestion is to invite new moms in different situations to obtain different perspectives/points of view, as well to identify similarities. The idea is to show that no matter what social situation a woman is in, or what her socio-economic status or education is, a child is a big responsibility!

 

Here are some examples of topics to consider:

  • Married or single

  • Same gender couple moms or heterosexual moms

  • Mothers with little formal education or university level education, professional moms

  • Lower-income, mid-level income, or higher income moms

  • Moms of different ages

 

 

Popular Education Prompts

  • It might be useful to highlight the importance of talking to people who are actually going through an experience (like motherhood) when you’re trying to learn about it, instead of only taking into account the generalizations made about them.

  • It could also be useful to have some resources on hand about local programs that support young mothers.

 

Leading the Activity: Steps to Take

Preparation:

  1. Photocopy an Interviewing New Moms: Reference Sheet for each participant.

 

Workshop:

  1. Hand out the Interviewing New Moms: Reference Sheet to each participant.

  2. Tell participants that they will be interviewing new moms.

  3. Introduce the new moms to the group, then ask the group to go around and introduce themselves, providing their name, why they are a part of the workshop.

  4. Ask each new mom to briefly share their story (5 minutes each):

    1. What is their situation (married, single, same-sex or heterosexual relationship, etc.)?

    2. How did they come to the decision to have a baby?

    3. What is the most challenging issue is about being a new mom?

    4. What is the most amazing part of being a new mom?

  5. Divide participants according to the number of new moms present.

  6. Tell participants they are now journalists for a magazine. Using their Interviewing New Moms: Reference Sheet, they must interview the new moms for next cover story. The story that they are writing about is “Life as a New Mom: A Behind the Scenes Story.” The magazine wants them to find out the following information for the story:

    1. The physical, emotional, and economic stressors, etc.

    2. Life before motherhood and life as a mother

  7. Share some examples with them about the types of questions they might ask:

    1. How has your social life changed?

    2. Is it expensive to take care of the baby?

    3. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?

    4. How often do you have to take care of the baby alone?

    5. What is the biggest challenge about being a new mother?

    6. What is the most amazing part of being a new mother?

  8. Each group will have 10 minutes to interview the new mom. They will then repeat this process which each new mom.

  9. Closing: Ask participants to form a circle, include the new moms.

  10. Go around the circle, asking each participant to reflect on her experience and share her most significant learning from the activity

 

Debrief

Thank the new moms for coming and sharing their experiences.

Questions to ask the group:

  • How does what you have learned today fit or not fit with what you thought about new motherhood?

  • How did the activity make you feel?

 

Success Indicators

Participants are:

  • More aware of the reality of being a new mom

  • Better able to identify what challenges and rewards are experienced with motherhood

 

Source: The North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program, Gender Specific Resource Manual: http://ncdjjdp.org/gsmpregnancy/newmom/html