PlayGroups-Should you bother?

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:45:37 GMT

PlayGroups. Why bother? Yes, you have to get yourself and your children ready, load them up, make small talk and play nice with other moms, but lets look beyond that.

The importance of playgroups is not necessarily for the socialization of your child so much as it is for you as a mother (or lets not forget fathers too). The dynamic within a PlayGroup is always a sticky and usually awkward one, especially with the first meeting because of the overwhelming sense of anomi-no not the japanese cartoon. It's the sense of normlessness. There are no schemas to follow, you are all but reinventing yourself and who you want to be percieved as to a group of new people who will from then on, define you as the person you present. There are as of yet roles to be played and responsibilities to be dealt (who will host the next playgroup, who will email everyone, who will bring snacks, who will organize activities for the children, ect).

But as the journey becomes easier (and you learn to accept that one mom who always seem to refer to herself in the third person once removed) a change takes place. Even if your little one isn't quite old enough to understand what exactly is happening, just by watching your interaction with other adults he's picking up on nonverbal ques and socially acceptable behavior.

What's the benefit for you? You have the opportunity to blow off a little steam. Trade war stories, helpful tips, tricks of the trade and most importantly, make some new friends. Lets just be honest, your days of partying and hanging out with your college buddies till the wee hours of the night are over. You eat dinner, tuck the kids in, do a load of laundry and go to bed at nine o'clock wondering exactly at what point your soul departed your body. But lets do keep in mind that not every playgroup is the same. A playgroup takes on a personality of it's own after the first several meetings, as does any club or group. Be picky about the playgroup you join, simlpy do it in a fashion that doesn't give off the "witch" vibe.

If you're dissatisfied with your playgroup, your child will sense the tension and be unable to play as freely. This is for the both of you, so make sure it works for the both of you. You can find thousands of playgroups in any area of the country by a simple google search-don't be afraid to try out several before you commit to one or if you have time, two. Some social guidelines to follow when attending a playgroup:

Watch your child, just because there are more eyes doesn't mean yours get to take a break!
Be courteous and if not regularly, occasionally offer to either host or plan the activity.
Take your turn in shelling out for snacks and drinks (not only for the children but for the adults as well).
If your playgroup is for little ones, bring your diaper bag and supplies with you, it's not anyone else's responsibility to have your supplies!
If you're the person who is talking to another adult while looking at your baby, referring to yourself as "Mommy had a busy day yesterday and she just couldn't call you back." Please-save the baby talk for the baby and look the other adult in the eye. ... And we know your name, it isn't mommy to us. (Sorry, pet peeve.)
Most importantly-enjoy yourself and your time away from the washing machine, watching your child laugh and play, and basking in the good company of other parents!!

Babies and baby gates

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:57:38 GMT

The everyday hassles of raising children can be taxing on even a team of "experts," but you don't get a team, do you? You have yourself, and if you're lucky, a family and a partner. You can read every book there is on what you should expect when expecting or how to raise the new little bundle in your life. I can all but garauntee that things will not go as smoothly as the books may lead you to imagine. Being a new mother of six month old twins, there have been things that no amount of reading can prepare you for. Feedings on the hour every two hours-round the clock, projectile vomit, explosive diahrea, and; the cursed six o'clock witching hour which for some reason causes every living being under the age of five years to cry uncontrollably for no apparent reason. Of course, these things fade as your child grows and as you become more aware of what each cry actually signals. The first true smile, the tiny squeeky giggles, the first time a stranger holds them and they look to you for reassurance; all things that confirm you are a mother and you never knew you could love so completely, these are the times you remember.

And then, one day they begin to roll-fast, and crawl-quickly, and you wonder exactly how you're to keep them in their designated blanket area and still clean dishes or fold laundry. This is where we were several weeks ago before we found our baby enclosure. And I must say, it has been wonderful. The usual "it's too quiet" instinct seems to have subsided since we purchased our gate. I know that when they're in it, they are unable to reach anything haphazardly laying on the ground (the dust bunnies my daughter has a knack for collecting between her fingers). I personally recommend purchasing the puzzle foam alphabet as a foundation to put your baby enclosure around. Spit up is made easier to clean with the foam, and there is nothing for them to pinch or pull out of the carpet, as well as no carpet burn. A safe way to keep your eye on them and know exactly where they are and what they're doing. We went with the honeycomb enclosure versus the bar enclosure so that I was reassured they couldn't reach their arms out and grab anything or pull anything down.

So there it is, my tid bit gate promo. Seriously though, it's nice to have but I would say a must for moms of multiples.

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PlayGroups-Should you bother?

Babies and baby gates