NOTE – This is part 1 of 3 articles exploring the Myrtle Beach mom scene. This article will dive into the realities of the area and why so many women struggle to find community and support. Part 2 is a list of the existing mom groups in the area and Part 3 covers some ways to be proactive in making mom friends in Myrtle Beach.
You’ll see a link to have Part 2 and 3 sent to your email address at the bottom of this article.
you are not alone in this struggle!
The challenge of making mom friends is a reality most of us will face at some point in motherhood. And Myrtle Beach has a ways to go when it comes to fostering connection among locals. There are many dynamics which caused us to arrive here so let’s explore those first so we can all stop feeling bad about ourselves.
Myrtle beach is a transient area
Myrtle Beach is a historically transient area. People come and go in the service industries because jobs are often unstable or seasonal. When the work slows down and paychecks dwindle many residents have no choice but to find other work or move out of the area entirely. All that disruption and stress doesn’t leave a lot of time for the luxury of pursuing casual friendships.
Service industry schedules
A lot of those same people work untraditional hours because that’s just what jobs in hospitality look like. Hospitality and retail jobs account for 41% of Myrtle Beach’s workforce. Four out of ten people in the area have to regularly work nights, weekends and holidays.
That makes it hard to establish a routine and find common times of availability with friends. And truly it just makes you flat out exhausted and less likely to prioritize finding friendship.
loneliness is america's newest epidemic
This isn’t unique to Myrtle Beach but it is a truth worth pausing for. Americans are just flat out lonely. This recent report from the Harvard Graduate School of Education revealed 61% of young adults feel “serious loneliness” and 51% of mothers with young children do too. And the FB mom groups in Myrtle Beach prove it when every 5th post is a plea for friendship.
This was a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic but that train wreck certainly hit the accelerator on what was already brewing. Loneliness isn’t just a part time problem either. It affects mental and physical health. And it can lead to an increase in anxiety and depression.
rapid population growth
The population boom in Myrtle is real. Did you know early 1,000 people are moving here each month? That is over 30 people per day. It continues to blow my mind.
They’re coming from hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles away and often know no one when they arrive. As you likely know, it always takes a while to get life in order after a move. So while these new residents are often busy for months finding work, settling into their new house, and getting hooked up with doctors and dentists those things eventually get sorted out. Then they’ll come up for air only to realize their loneliness and boredom has become a major problem.
post pandemic behaviors
Thankfully most of life seems to be returning to normal but we did lose nearly 2 years of progress and normalcy. Some of the strategies that mama’s previously used to make friends are still lagging behind.
For example, church attendance is a quick and easy place to meet like minded people but many people got comfortable watching services online and have yet to return in person. For a long while library story times were gone, daycares and schools were closed, and other social groups shut down.
Sounds gloomy. but the story isn't over!
Those things can all be true AND we can still have great adult friendships.
Let’s now look at what already exists in the Myrtle Beach area for moms. And some options for how you can unlock the potential for friendship already around you.