We have existed in some capacity for more than 20 years.
From MOMS Club, to Wheaton Area Moms, to WAM & Fam—our membership, our mission, and our diversity have grown a lot over the years.
The early 2000s
We started out as part of the Silver Spring chapter of the MOMS Club for stay-at-home moms. After several years, the MOMS Club decided the chapter had grown too large. In 2005, they divided us into 4 smaller, separate groups.
The MOMS Club renamed our group the Silver Spring–West chapter. We continued to grow over the next few years. But after two of the other Silver Spring chapters closed, we began to receive membership requests from mothers, as well as fathers, within those regions and beyond.
We soon realized we wanted to establish our own group identity.
Becoming an independent group
We wanted to open our doors to all part- and full-time stay-at-home parents. We also did not want limit membership to a small geographic location.
To accomplish this new mission, our board and members unanimously agreed to dissolve the Silver Spring–West chapter and say farewell to the MOMS Club. We immediately formed our own independent, private group in 2009.
At the time, the majority of our members lived in or near Wheaton; thus, they voted to rename our group Wheaton Area Moms (WAM).
Extending membership options
Today, while our members live primarily in Silver Spring, we also have plenty of mothers and fathers from Bethesda, Olney, Laurel, Takoma Park, etc.
In addition, our membership has grown to include parents who work part or full time, as our group welcomes any parent or primary caregiver looking for support. Our group is not for au pairs or nannies.
Becoming WAM & Fam
To continue our mission of welcoming all families and family members, our membership voted in 2021 to change the name of our group to WAM & Fam.