Opener Suggestion...
Hi everyone, and welcome to tonight’s WhatsApp live chat which is all about *The Transition into Parenthood, our expectations vs reality*. We have XX, YY, and ZZ here with you this evening.
Tonight we would like to keep our focus on how our own self-imposed expectations can impact our mental health/wellbeing. Please be mindful that everyone will have their own journey of experiences and expectations, and we ask that everyone involved remains respectful of these unique differences.
You’re very welcome to join in whether you’re new to the group, have been here for a while, or have mostly been reading along and now feel ready to say hello.
Thank you, your peer supporters
Possible Questions to ask during the chat...
What does transition into parenthood mean to you?
What expectations did you have for/of yourself in parenthood? Were these realistic?
Is there anything unexpected that you’ve found about your transition to parenthood? E.g. finding new friendships, new ways to practice self-care etc This sentence might help us to answer this; 'I never expected that becoming a parent would mean ...'
Looking ahead to the next stage of parenthood for you, what are you looking forward to? (E.g. First smiles, playing together, more independence, sleep?!)
What are you already doing to look after your mental health? Is there anything you would like to try?
Thinking about what you’ve shared, and hearing others in the group’s experiences, how do you feel now? (Do you think your expectations are realistic/achievable??)