Working moms connect in the Valley

It's hard to imagine that you can feel lonely amid the busyness of your work life and family life, but it is an unexpected part of being a working mom. Often your priorities and personal relationships are put on hold. Over time, this creates an increasing sense of isolation and loneliness. But there are ways to combat loneliness and one way is connecting with other women through organized groups around the Valley.

Here are my top three picks:

• Chat, Chew & Chocolate (CCC): The whole idea of CCC is to, "remind women to give themselves permission to slow down, have fun, build friendships, create boundaries and take care of ourselves." Events are led by an amazing group of energetic, down-to-earth women who know how to create an atmosphere of fun and relaxation. You may arrive at one of their Valley meet ups stressed from a tough day at work, but it won't take long for you to unwind and enjoy all that CCC has to offer you.

  Find out more about CCC: Visit www.chatchewandchocolate.com or follow @ChatChew on Twitter.

• Fempreneur Connections (Fem-C): Founded by, Bevla Reeves, Fem-C's mission is to provide fun, inspiration, education and meaningful connections for fempreneurs - feeding her mind, body and soul. Even if you're not an entrepreneur, you'll appreciate the inspiration, connection and learning you'll gain from the Fem-C events, which include happy hours, book clubs and workshops.

  Find out more about Fem-C: Visit www.fempreneurconnections.com or follow @Breeves1 on Twitter.

• Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS): MOPS is an national, faith-based organization with local chapters around the world. The Valley has several active chapters that bring together moms of all types: stay-at-home, working, single, married, and more. MOPS moms may be diverse in their backgrounds and experiences, but they share one thing in common, which is the desire to be the best they can be. Meetings vary, but you can expect to learn about topics relevant to your life stage, enjoy heart-to-heart discussions with other moms, and participate in creative activities. Also, MOPS was originally founded to serve mothers of preschool-age children, but has recently expanded to serve moms of school-age children as well.

  Find out more about MOPS: www.mops.org or follow @MOPS_Int on Twitter.