Family Tides
When Morgan Orlowski’s son was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 4, she knew how fortunate she was to have a strong circle of support.
Now, Orlowski is supporting other parents and reminding them they’re not alone on this journey. The founder and creative director of Motivated Mommies recently launched an ADHD support group to give parents a space to connect and share resources.
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood, often marked by forgetfulness, distractibility, hyperactivity or impulsivity. An estimated 7 million children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. have been diagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I’ve kind of been growing this through the years, and I’ve always been pretty transparent about what we go through,” explained Orlowski. “We need support. We need to feel like we’re not alone in these journeys. So often it can feel like that, and I’ve definitely gone through stages of this diagnosis with him where I’ve kind of isolated myself.”
Connection through understanding
Each month, the group meets at Island Therapy in Somers Point. A diagnosis isn’t required, and while moms have mostly attended the first few sessions, Orlowski said both a teacher and therapist have joined previous sessions, and that any caregiver, parent or person seeking support is welcome.
Meetings typically include sharing what’s working at home, what’s been hard and what they’ve learned in between. Orlowski said most leave with a new perspective or feeling inspired — and, most importantly, feeling less alone.
“We lean on each other. We just say, like, what’s going well in your lives right now? And what’s been hard? What’s something that’s working in your household really well, and what’s something that’s not? So, it’s a big open conversation,” Orlowski said.
And as the discussions unfold, bonds form quickly.
“We’re all just instant friends because we all can more than relate to each other on so many levels,” she said. “When one person is talking, I look around at all the other ladies’ faces, and we’re all just nodding our heads in disbelief that someone else could possibly be going through something so similar to what we thought we were going through alone.”
While many moms appreciate the meetings as time for themselves, an upcoming session will include the children and focus on friendship building. Orlowski said the idea came after several moms shared that their kids were struggling with making friends.
“It’s not uncommon for kids with ADHD to have a hard time connecting because of that executive functioning that they struggle with. It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “What’s driving me to keep creating things like this is hearing the feedback from these women and how their kids feel.”
The group will also have an occupational therapist speaking at their next meeting.
For Orlowski, supporting other moms has always gone hand in hand with being open about her own experiences. She said part of what inspired her to start the group came from her family’s current struggles.
“I just see that there’s a really big need for this, and I’m so glad I decided to say something. It can be hard as a parent to be vulnerable,” she said.
Growing and giving back
The instinct to connect and support other women has long been central to Orlowski’s work with Motivated Mommies. In 2017, while pregnant with her son, she launched the Facebook group, which has since grown from local moms swapping advice and resources into a community that hosts meetups, supports each other and local businesses, and gives back to the community.
“We’re supporting our businesses, but we’re also supporting each other and connecting with our communities. Building friendships is such a big part of it, too,” Orlowski explained.
Today, the Facebook group has more than 5,000 members from across South Jersey and beyond.
“I think I’ve always known in my heart that I want to connect people,” she said. “I couldn’t have imagined it becoming this because it’s become more than what I ever thought that it could.”
Over the years, Motivated Mommies has hosted everything from infertility groups to walking clubs and beach cleanups. Among its most popular gatherings is its biannual Sip and Shop event, which supports women entrepreneurs and the local community.
Since 2021, the event has steadily grown and now has 13 sponsors for this year’s Holiday Sip and Shop. The event, hosted at Renault Winery, will feature more than 50 local vendors, swag bags, giveaways, a complimentary glass of champagne and more. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point.
In the past, the event’s ticket sales have supported organizations like She Thrives, a Linwood-based nonprofit dedicated to aiding single mothers, and Nor’Easter Nick’s Rainy Day Project.
“It’s just really, really cool that our efforts in creating this event are now able to help other businesses with what they’re doing and their mission,” Orlowski said. “You don’t have to be a mom to attend our events.”
The next ADHD support group meetings will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 3 and Dec. 1 at Island Therapy in Somers Point. The Holiday Sip and Shop will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 20 at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City. Tickets are $10.
For more information about upcoming events, follow the group on Instagram at motivatedmommies or visit motivatedmommiesnj.com.
Photo courtesy of Morgan Orlowski
Madison Russ is an award-winning journalist, copy editor and adjunct professor of communication based in Atlantic County. An Ocean City native, Madison is passionate about telling stories that matter to locals, often spotlighting nonprofits and exploring the area’s vibrant arts scene.
