Playgroups

I am not exaggerating when I say playgroups were the reason I survived my first year of motherhood.  When I had my first baby at 28, I didn't feel young - I felt ready.  What I didn't realize was that none of my friends had babies - and this was a big problem!  I had no one I could go to for advice.  I had no one I could go to who understood what I was going through and could really sympathize.  The day my husband went to work after his paternity leave, I stayed inside all day with my perfect little baby boy and cried my eyes out.  I felt so alone and scared.  Thankfully, I found a new mom's group and launched into mom friend making mode.  Making friends is never easy - and it always takes work.  But the work was worth it.  Once I realized I could get out of the house and survive on my own, I went to every group I could find.  Eventually, our new mom's group continued out on our own for a couple of more years.

With every new baby, I have gone to classes and tried to make new mom friends.  I did this so I could have friends with a kid the same age as mine.  It is always so helpful to be around people and kids going through the same things at the same time.  Even though I have done much of this before - it is easy to forget what the should or should not be eating or activities they should be doing.  It is also great for kids who are not in a daycare setting to be around kids their own ages - to begin to share, play and interact.  Thank you to all the moms from 6 years ago when #1 was born and to the moms now who enrich my life, make me a better parent and keep me going.