For Mothers

Kamalat äidit® – peer support groups for mothers of teenagers

“I have more faith in myself; I am a good mom as I am”.

Is your child’s puberty challenging you as a parent? Would you like to share your thoughts with other mothers in the same life situation as you?

Join a Kamalat äidit/Terrible moms peer support group!
Please check our next English activities at the end of this page.
There is a group starting in Helsinki 7 April (Kamppi), and in Espoo 16 April 2026 (Matinkylä).

Kamalat äidit® organizes peer support activities for mothers of teenagers. In the groups, we discuss parenthood and other themes related to women’s lives, share knowledge about teenage years and encourage mothers to talk and share their thoughts with the other participants.

The groups are open to all mothers of teenagers. After the first meeting, to ensure confidentiality, the group continues as a closed group.

The Kamalat äidit® groups are peer-support group leader led groups, to which every mother of teenager can participate. In the group, we discuss daily life challenges such as curfews, use of money, intoxicants and addictions, as well as other things mothers are wondering and want to talk about.

The peer support groups usually meet every second week, 4 – 10 times in total, for approximately an hour and a half each time. 4 to 10 mothers can participate in one group. We expect the participants to be committed for the duration of the group.

Peer-support activities

Are a reciprocal and confidential exchange of experience.
Are based on people’s need to give and receive support from one another.
Are about sharing one’s own experience and life situation in a respectful and safe environment.

Would you like to join?

The Kamalat äidit groups meet in many different places all around Finland and new groups are started all the time. You can find more information about the group timetables on our Finnish page or asking directly from our team via email: kamalataidit@ywca.fi
If there isn’t any Kamalat äidit group in your city/your locality, you can start one yourself! Contact us at: kamalataidit@ywca.fi (to start a group, you need to do our on-line training first).
Follow us and share with others on social media, you can find here our main Facebook page and our multilingual Facebook page.

Kamalat äidit® operating model is a registered trademark since Autumn 2013. It is coordinated by The Finnish YWCA and funded by STEA.

Some feedback from the participants:

” This was a good way of pausing for me.” /“ The peer support was meaningful”.
“The peer support has made my life easier”. / ”I’m more kind towards myself”.
”You always get support, cheers, strength”. / ”I dared to speak in the group and I got strength from that”.

The image of a mother sacrificing all her dreams to her husband and children is an inspiring example. But what about you? You deserve your dreams. You’re a wonderful mother, and you’re also a wonderful woman.
Pam Brown

Terrible mothers -activities in English

Online orientation for new peer support group leaders: Next English one starts 29 Sep 2026
After participating in our orientation, you will be able to facilitate a group to support other mothers of teenagers. Groups can also be held online and/or in a different language. We offer group leader trainings in English once/twice a year and in Finnish about four times/year. We also organise additional training and recreational activities for our facilitators. Please see more info on this page!
Or call/whats app/e-mail: riikka.koola@ywca.fi, tel. 040 821 7894

Terrible Mothers – group for international mothers in Espoo
Meeting place: Iso Omena Library in Matinkylä, Espoo
Meetings: Thu 16 April, Fri 15 May, Thu 28 May, Thu 4 June 2026 at 17.30 – 19
Please register by 22 March by sending your details to the e-mail addresses below.
More info from facilitators Fon or Mehreen: fonfonvk@gmail.com, connect.with.mehreen@gmail.com

Terrible Mothers – group for both international and Finnish mothers in Helsinki
Meeting places: Luckan (Yrjönkatu 27, Kamppi, 3 times) and Oodi Central Library (2 times).
Meetings: Five Tuesday evenings 7 April, 21 April, 5 May, 19 May, 2 June 2026 at 18 – 19.30
Please register by 31 March in here
More info from facilitators Elba and Gitika (via riikka.koola@ywca.fi)

Would you like to be part of the Terrible Mothers activities?
Would you like to receive up-to-date information on our activities? Join our mailing list (Don’t worry, we won’t fill your inbox by sending messages constantly!)
Join the Multilingual Terrible mothers’ Facebook page. We’ll keep you posted on upcoming events.