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# Lonely moms need to lean on others
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/lonely-moms-need-to-lean-on-others/
- Published: 2005-03-22T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T23:44:00.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Malibu, #archive-import

Dear Dorie, I am a new mom with a beautiful 3-month-old baby. My husband is a great partner and father but his work hours are pretty long — about 12 hours a day. I’m lucky enough to stay at home with the baby, but I’m really feeling lonely and confused. Weekends are awesome, but weekdays are really tough. My son is pretty fussy and I guess that’s normal, but aren’t I supposed to be happy? — New Mom Dear New Mom, Parenting an infant is the most rewarding but most difficult thing you’ll have to do in your life, and support is required. While you feel terribly alone all week, you are never really alone with an infant (squeezing a shower in while he’s asleep in the crib does not count as alone). Your weekends may feel fulfilling because of necessary adult companionship and help with caregiving.

Get yourself to a mother/infant support group, parenting class or mother/infant activity as soon as possible. Try Family Connections at Joslyn Park on Monday mornings; Baby & Me at the YWCA for Tuesdays or Thursdays; Library Laptime for infants and parents on a variety of days. Call my program at (310) 452-6132 for a detailed weekly schedule of the many options you have to leave the house with your infant, and get social and emotional support from the parenting community.

Finally, you are not alone. About 75 percent of mothers experience some sort of isolation and/or depression in the first year of motherhood. You need a good old-fashioned village to help you with your little treasure. Go for it and keep me posted.

Dorie (Dorie Meek is director of the Infant & Family Support Program, provided by Saint John’s Health Center in partnership with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Meek answers questions concerning children ages birth to 5 years old. Submit your questions to “Dear Dorie” at, or call (310) 452-6132; fax (310) 452-6392).

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 22, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/032205.pdf?ref=smdp.com)