High School Musical Chairs: The Psychology of Mom Groups

Mom groups: supportive lifeline or unexpected source of stress? In this episode, we explore the history and modern-day reality of mom groups, especially as they’ve shifted to online spaces. We talk about the benefits—connection, shared wisdom, and community—alongside the challenges, including comparison, pressure, and toxicity. Through personal stories, we reflect on how friendships can change during motherhood and why it’s normal to have different levels of connection with different moms. Ultimately, we focus on finding the kind of support that actually feels good and giving yourself permission to step away from what doesn’t.