New Okanagan event aims to give moms a place to learn, connect and support

Alexi McGreer is the mastermind behind a new Okanagan event that fills a need she was looking for when she moved back to Kelowna.

The inaugural Main Mom Event will be held at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna from 10 am until 4 pm, Saturday, Oct. 21.

It will provide moms – expecting, new or experienced – with a place to learn about self-care, connect directly with local resources and shop with local businesses and artisans.

“I was looking for something like this when I moved back to Kelowna and was raising two young boys,” says McGreer.

“It would have been comforting to know that I was not alone in navigating advice and changes I was experiencing from breastfeeding to body image, to balancing parenting and career.”

According to McGreer, moms often run into unreliable information and unrealistic standards online, which is why the Main Mom Event will bring together trusted experts, resources and other moms offline.

“Googling things in the middle of the night often left me feeling conflicted and isolated, and social media continues to trigger self-doubt in myself and my parenting,” she explains.

“Even as my children get older and my needs change, I still look for support in different areas and I want to bring those supports for moms together in one place.”

The event will feature speakers on maternal mental health, postpartum body and pelvic health, nutritional health, sex and parenting, and communication skills.

There will also be a panel session on the Many Facets of Modern Motherhood and more than 60 local resources and businesses.

For a little fun, you can expect a photo booth, free massages, self-care services and prizes, along with complimentary tea or coffee while you mingle with other moms and happy hour wine for purchase.

Tickets for the Main Mom Event are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and you can learn more about the event and secure your ticket online.

Although the event is scheduled from 10 am until 4 pm, it's not necessary to be there for the entire six hours and people are encouraged to drop in at any time throughout the day.