The sounds of children playing, conversations, laughter, and the chatter of mothers filled the French Institute, where the first gathering in the “You Are Not Alone, Mom” series was held, organized by the Europe House Novi Sad and Svilena Buba.
The idea for this series emerged from a real need for socialization and support in a world where mothers are expected to be “everywhere at once.” Its goal is to create a space where mothers feel seen, explains Angelina, the creator behind the Svilena Buba Instagram account.
“I want mothers to leave these events with the feeling that they are not alone, and that there is an entire community that can become part of their lives, supporting and understanding them because it faces similar challenges and experiences.”
One of the participants, Isidora Paklar, left the workshop with exactly that feeling. She emphasized that Novi Sad had been missing something like this.
“I think this kind of connection and creating a place where mothers can come with their children, share experiences, and support one another is invaluable. It’s a space for support and understanding, and that’s exactly what we’ve been lacking.”
While the mothers were talking, the children enjoyed a creative corner featuring Montessori materials provided by Cubo Play and supported by volunteers, allowing parents to truly dedicate some time to themselves. The central theme of the first gathering was recognizing and preventing parental burnout.
Psychotherapist Jovana Budima explained to participants why this condition is unique and often more difficult than professional burnout.
“Parental burnout is particularly challenging because there is no resignation from that role. You can leave a job, but you cannot leave your child. This creates a specific sense of entrapment that the body remembers deeply. A question that often confuses parents is: ‘How can I be so exhausted by my children and still love them?’ Love and exhaustion can exist at the same time”, Budima explained.
She reminded mothers that self-care is not selfishness but a necessity, because children need parents who are well. She also reassured them that “everything they do is good enough.”
For the European House Novi Sad, this series represents much more than just an event. As Dobrila Marković pointed out, European values are reflected not only in high-level policies but also in caring about citizens’ quality of life.
“For the European House, it is especially important to show that European values are not abstract topics discussed only at panel discussions. They are reflected in everyday life—in caring for mental health, supporting families, promoting gender equality, and building communities where people feel included and supported. That is precisely why, through this series, we want to demonstrate that Europe is present in these small but meaningful conversations that improve people’s daily lives.”
The “You Are Not Alone, Mom” series will continue every month, reminding us that strength lies in togetherness.