Playgroups Are A MUST for Moms!!

So I've been sitting around my house for the last 4 1/2 years wondering what I can get into with my kids. I looked for playgroups and kept getting put off by the way many were run. For example, one group took 2 months to reply to my request to join their forum and another group wanted me to provide my phone number over the internet so they could talk to me and invite to a stranger's home! Are you kidding me?!?! I don't think so! I was really mad when I politely and politically explained that I didn't feel comfortable giving out my number to an e-mail address with no name and then going to someones home and asked if we could meet in a public place at least the first time....and they said that wasn't how they ran things. Ok, fine. I guess they didn't want any new members.

I finally found a group that was just starting out on CafeMom.com and joined. I went to the very first get together and over the last year have met several moms and made a very good friend out of it. Since then I have started my own area playgroup and recently became the owner of the cafemom group. It's so much work, but it's so much fun too.

I wish we had more moms in our group that would come out and that our group was a little closer than we are now. But I know that these things will come in time. What I do know is that even though there are only a few active moms in the playgroup and that I'm only close to a couple of them, there have been some major benefits!!

First, I have made some new mommy friends that can relate to me (unlike my college friends who have never changed a diaper)!

Second, My boys have made some friends, and if it weren't for playgroups, they wouldn't know any kids their ages in our area! Poor things!

Third, My boys are learning some valuable lessons by being around other kids: sharing, being patient, that things aren't always fair, how to make friends and how to be nice!

Forth, I'm less likely to lose my mind on days I have playgroups because it gives me something to look forward to!

Fifth, I'm more motivated now. Maybe it's because so and so's house looked so nice and I want mine to look that good too! Or because the other mom made such delicious cookies that I can't help but want to bake like her! Or maybe it's because I have an outlet now. Time to vent to other moms and time for my kids to play with others their own age.

I'm not really sure what it is about playgroups that is so great, but I do know that I'm so glad I'm part of one! I think that if I were asked to give a new mom one piece of advice that I never got, it would be to join a playgroup!! Joining a playgroup is a MUST for all Moms!!

I hope you're in one too! If not, check out your local newspaper or PlaygroupsUSA.com and CafeMom.com to see if there's one in your area! Happy Playing!