Mahjong, Moms & Mental Health
When life gets chaotic — and let’s be honest, parenting teens is chaos — I’ve learned that nothing helps me unwind quite like a Girls Night Out (GNO). Since moving back to Huntsville last summer after seven years away, I assumed I’d just fall right back into the rhythm with my old crew. Spoiler: I did not. Life is full. We’re all knee-deep in carpool schedules, late-night homework help, and snack duty. It’s no one’s fault, it’s just the season we’re in.
But as an extrovert who thrives on connection, I needed more than the occasional coffee catch-up. I was looking for something consistent,
something fun, and maybe even a little unexpected.
Enter Mahjong.
Yes, that mahjong. The one you’ve probably seen all over TikTok or overheard whispered reverently at brunch. I was skeptical at first. It looked complicated, cliquey, and maybe a little too vintage-chic for me. But then I gave it a shot and I’m hooked.
I was introduced to the game through my job — our nonprofit is planning a mahjong tournament next February — but what kept me coming back were
the people I met. Especially two incredible local women: Anna Ford and Lara Allen.
Anna, better known as @WannaMahj, is a passionate mahjong instructor who offers workshops all over Huntsville. She’s warm, welcoming, and great at breaking down the game for nervous beginners. I had my first lesson with her, and I was surprised at how quickly the confusion turned into fun.
Lara Allen, a licensed therapist and co-owner of The Collective Counseling & Consulting, LLC, is the kind of person who just radiates connection. She saw how powerful community can be — especially for moms who are feeling the weight of this stage of life — and decided to
combine her love for mental health and mahjong into a unique event series called Mahjong & Mental Health.
These gatherings go beyond the game — they’re about healing, laughing, and connecting in a space where you can show up exactly as you are.
They’re low-pressure, high-vibes, and an ideal way for moms to find community without having to fake small talk over a lukewarm latte.
Enter: Sparrow Social Society
This year, Lara and Anna partnered to create the Sparrow Social Society, a local Huntsville organization focused on building community, especially among women, through social events, support, and shared experiences. Their mission is to create spaces where women can connect, recharge, and feel seen — particularly during life stages (like motherhood) that can feel lonely or overwhelming.
Through the Mahjong & Mental Health series, Sparrow Social Society is helping enable this connection locally: providing venues, helping organize the meetups, and fostering partnerships among moms who are craving authentic connection.
Want to get involved? Here’s how:
- Show up to a Mahjong & Mental Health event: Keep an eye on local event listings or social media (follow Anna, Lara, and Sparrow
Social Society) for the next one. You don’t need to know how to play. Just bring yourself (maybe snacks) and a willingness to meet new people. - Form your own group: If mahjong isn’t your thing, you could organize a book club, crafting night, walking group or whatever lights you up — Sparrow Social Society is often open to helping facilitate or promote smaller subgroup events for moms.
- Volunteer in planning: Help set up events — picking venues, coordinating hosts, managing RSVPs. This is a great way to meet people and shapemthe kind of gatherings you want to see.
- Spread the word: Sometimes the hardest part is getting folks there. If you know a mom who might like this, personally invite her. Share on neighborhood Facebook groups. Let people know it exists — you’ll be helping build the community by simply telling others.
Final Thoughts
Motherhood doesn’t come with a user manual, and this stage (teens! schedules! expectations!) feels especially weird. But community helps.
Whether that’s laughing over misplaced tiles in mahjong, sharing honest thoughts over coffee, or just knowing someone else is in the trenches with you — it matters. And Huntsville has people and organizations who want you to have that support. Sometimes all it takes is saying yes to an invite.
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