It’ s about gathering, sharing struggles, learning together, and just being real.
real-life stories
The Parent Hub
If you’ ve ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, or just plain lonely in motherhood – The Parent Hub gets it. And more importantly, it’ s here to help.
“ We’ re not just another mom group,” says founder Christie Buss.“ We’ re the village – the one you were promised but never quite found.”
What began as a small online space for sharing tools and information has blossomed into South Africa’ s largest in-person mom community. And it all started with Christie’ s own struggle.“ When I had my third baby, who had colic and allergies, everything shifted,” she says.“ What I needed most wasn’ t advice – it was connection.”
So she created it. She started with simple weekly walks as“ a way for moms to get outside, move their bodies and, most importantly, meet other women in the same season”. Those walks are now the heartbeat of The Parent Hub, alongside brunches, vision-board mornings, wellness events, and buzzing WhatsApp groups.
It’ s about gathering, sharing struggles, learning together, and just being real.
But it doesn’ t stop there. The Boss Mom Hub, a powerful offshoot of The Parent Hub, supports women building businesses while raising kids.“ It’ s about building your business in community, not isolation,” Christie says.
All of this is now united under Connect, the broader umbrella championing
www. babysandbeyond. co. za connection in both parenting and entrepreneurship.
“ A village isn’ t just about having people around – it’ s about having the right people around,” says Christie.“ My best tip? Don’ t try to do it alone. Find your people. That’ s where the magic happens.” Join now at www. theparenthub. online.
MomCo Mzansi
Motherhood is no joke. And trying to do it alone? Even harder. That’ s where MomCo Mzansi steps in, a warm, welcoming community for moms across South Africa that’ s part of a global movement spanning 110 countries.
“ MomCo started back in 1973 when seven women in Denver, Colorado, in the USA, began meeting regularly to grow as women, parents and leaders,” explains South Africa’ s Country Coordinator, Santie Nortje.“ That small group became something massive – now reaching over three million moms every year.”
Previously known as MOPS( Mothers of Preschoolers), the initiative rebranded in 2023, but its heart remains the same.“ Even though we’ re a Christian moms
ministry, every mom is welcome, no matter her personal beliefs,” Santie emphasises.
MomCo came to South Africa in 2017, when a Cape Town mom, inspired by a MOMCON conference in the US, started a group at her church. From there it grew, and now includes moms with babies, school-age kids, and even teens.
“ It’ s about gathering, sharing struggles, learning together, and just being real,” says Santie.“ We believe in real relationships – like someone dropping off a meal when you’ ve just had a baby, or a goodie box when you’ re sick.”
With 730 groups in 44 African countries, MomCo is redefining what community looks like – sometimes even meeting under trees in rural villages.
“ MomCo is the hack,” says Santie.“ It’ s where you realise you’ re not alone. We support, not judge.”
Ready to find your village? Drop Santie a WhatsApp on 082 414 6596 or email hello @ momco. co. za – your coffee and community await!
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