The Village Is Creating a New Kind of Support System for Moms in Bangkok

Founded by May Haas, this growing WhatsApp community is helping moms in Thailand find connection, trusted advice, and a sense of belonging in the middle of modern motherhood

The Village is a growing WhatsApp community is helping moms in Thailand find connection, trusted advice, and a sense of belonging in the middle of modern motherhood

Motherhood today can feel strangely contradictory. Mothers are more digitally connected than ever, yet many still navigate daily life feeling isolated, overstimulated, and quietly overwhelmed. Between endless parenting advice online, pressure from social media, and the emotional weight of raising children far from traditional support systems, many moms are not necessarily looking for more information. They are looking for their people.

That is the idea behind The Village, a new Bangkok-based WhatsApp community designed to give mothers a more human, supportive, and judgment-free space to connect with one another in real time.

May Haas, founder of The Village

Created by May Haas, The Village brings together moms through organized WhatsApp groups focused on everything from parenting advice and local recommendations to emotional support and honest conversations about motherhood. The platform aims to feel less like another overwhelming online forum and more like an everyday support system that naturally fits into the rhythm of modern life.

The Inspiration Behind The Village

For Haas, the inspiration behind The Village did not come from one dramatic moment, but from the quiet accumulation of experiences that many mothers know intimately.

“Becoming a mother was incredibly beautiful, but also a much bigger adjustment than I expected,” she says. “Overnight my life changed completely, and while I had amazing people around me, there were still so many moments where I felt overwhelmed, anxious, or alone in certain thoughts.”

A Thai-based model, entrepreneur, former MTV Thailand VJ, and Met107FM DJ, Haas spent years in media and entertainment before motherhood shifted her priorities and perspective. Today, much of her work centers around creating spaces where women can connect through honest conversations, events, and modern motherhood culture.

What struck her most after becoming a mom was how isolated modern motherhood could feel, despite constant digital interaction.

“I realized a lot of modern motherhood happens quite isolated, even though we’re technically more connected than ever,” she explains. “I kept wishing there was one space that felt casual, supportive, honest, and easy to turn to throughout the day.”

That idea became The Village.

Why The Village Uses WhatsApp

Unlike traditional parenting forums or heavily curated social media spaces, the platform is intentionally designed around simplicity and accessibility. Haas chose WhatsApp because it already exists naturally within the way many moms communicate throughout the day.

“As moms, we’re constantly multitasking and moving through different parts of the day, so I wanted The Village to feel casual, accessible, and always within reach, literally in your pocket or diaper bag,” she says. “The goal was to make support feel easy and woven into everyday modern motherhood.”

The platform is organized into smaller sub-groups based on interests and life stages, allowing members to join only the discussions that feel useful to them. Members can also mute or leave chats anytime, helping reduce the sense of digital overload many parents already experience.

The Challenges Moms in Thailand Face Today

The timing feels especially relevant in cities like Bangkok, where many families are navigating parenthood without the support structures previous generations relied on.

“I think one of the biggest challenges many moms face today is that motherhood can feel surprisingly isolating, even when you’re surrounded by people,” Haas says. “Many mothers are balancing work and motherhood at the same time, and there’s often this quiet pressure to keep everything together while still showing up for everyone else.”

She also points to the emotional impact of social media and modern parenting culture.

“Mothers are constantly exposed to different parenting opinions, comparisons, and unrealistic expectations of what motherhood is supposed to look like,” she says.

That emotional exhaustion is part of why many mothers are now searching for smaller, more trusted communities rather than larger, noisier online spaces.

How The Village Supports Expat Moms in Bangkok

For expat families, moving to Thailand can bring another layer of complexity. Finding schools, pediatricians, neighborhoods, activities, and reliable childcare recommendations often happens through word of mouth rather than search engines.

“I think moving to a new country as a mother can feel especially overwhelming,” Haas says. “A lot of those answers are hard to find through Google alone. What really helps is hearing directly from other mothers who have already gone through it themselves.”

For many expat moms, The Village offers something practical but also deeply emotional: a sense of local belonging.

Haas hopes the platform can help make life in Thailand feel less intimidating and more connected for families arriving from abroad.

Creating a Judgment-Free Parenting Community

One of the core ideas behind The Village is creating a space free from the judgment and pressure often found in parenting forums and social media.

“I think a lot of mothers feel overwhelmed by how noisy online spaces can quickly become,” Haas says. “There’s an endless amount of opinions and information, and often unsolicited ones too. I think many moms are craving more honest, human conversations instead of perfectly curated versions of motherhood.”

Trust and moderation are central to the community. Haas says moms themselves help moderate discussions while encouraging a tone of openness, empathy, and kindness.

“Community culture matters just as much as rules,” she says.

The Emotional Side of Modern Motherhood

Beyond practical advice, Haas believes one of the biggest needs mothers have today is emotional reassurance.

“I think one of the most comforting things in motherhood is simply realizing you’re not the only one feeling a certain way,” she says. “So many mothers quietly carry feelings of loneliness, anxiety, or self-doubt while looking around thinking everyone else seems to have it all figured out.”

At its core, The Village is less about parenting perfection and more about helping mothers feel seen, understood, and supported through everyday life.

The Future of The Village in Thailand

Looking ahead, Haas hopes The Village can become something mothers naturally turn to throughout different stages of motherhood and life in Thailand.

“I’d love for The Village to become a trusted space that mothers can naturally turn to throughout different stages of motherhood and life in Thailand,” she says. “Especially for expat moms, I hope it helps make Thailand feel smaller, warmer, and connected. I hope we can be your village here.”

Check out The Village and join here: https://thevillage.mom

[PHOTO: Courtesy of May Haas]