CHRISSY OHLINGER / Special to the PVT Dee Larson and Lesli Bircher, co-founders of the new kids Web group, can be found out and about town with the kids, having fun and visiting with other moms. Advertisement

Being a stay-at-home mom can be tough.

Many moms feel isolated and lonely and look forward to play dates for the chance to talk and laugh with other moms.

Worse yet, being in a new community with small children is more difficult for stay-at-home parents because there is not much opportunity to meet people.

Lesli Bircher, mother of four, felt lonely too. But she decided to take a proactive approach to her feelings and help others.

First, she joined the Family to Family playgroup on Thursdays. She relaxed with the other moms and let the kids play. She looked forward to the play date so much that she suggested to the other parents that they meet more often.

The moms exchanged phone numbers and began to plan other outings -- mostly simple activities like going to Burger King or meeting at Honeysuckle Park.

Gradually the informal group grew. Family to Family recommended some new moms to the group and members invited other friends with kids to come and participate, until calling or emailing everyone became a hassle.

"Why not create a Web group? I can put it on one spot and we can share info," thought Bircher.

In December 2007, the new Web group, "Pahrump Kidz Fun Group," was born. The group now has 16 adult members and about 30 kids.

Lesli Bircher and Dee Larson, a grandmother in the group, got together to formalize the group on the Web. It's open to any caregiver, and most children are babies or toddlers. Members try to plan one or two activities per week in addition to the Family to Family play group.

They may plan to meet at Skate Zone during Saturday morning's tot session or one member might invite the whole group to her home for an activity like cookie decorating or a lawn party.

Melissa Estlack is a new mom in Pahrump and has taken the kids to two activities so far. "It's nice meeting new people," she said.

Larson describes the group as a way "to reach a whole group of people at one time who want to get out and play."

The activities are dual oriented. Kids get together for socialization and play time, but another important focus is on the adult members supporting each other and getting a chance to get out and socialize with other people who share the same interests.

Sometimes members share resources, like hand-me-down shoes and clothes, or even babysitting.

To find out more about the group, go to www.yahoogroups.com and search for "Pahrump kidz fun group."

Bircher and Larson would like to encourage anyone who wants to take the kids out to play to join the group, but for general safety of the children, families need to register at Family to Family Connections at 160 S. Emery St. before they are accepted.