Usually I’m pretty good in a small group. I enjoy hanging out and talking with a handful of people. If the group is too big or if I have to divide my attention, I’m a wreck.
So my get-together of choice is coffee with a few other moms. I’m not distracted by, you know, parenting the children and there aren’t too many people to try to talk to. It’s fun!
Of course this is not how homeschool moms can operate. We each bring our herd of kids to the park or indoor play area of a restaurant and turn them loose as a ravening horde, like Cossacks on the steppes. Except the steppes are the ball pit at Chik-fil-A.
This would work better for me if my kids didn’t have a tendency to fall, bleed or ignore the normal messages your body sends you that a biological process is fixing to commence.
I hate to be a hover mother, but my kids have literally pooped their pants instead of stopping play. We’ve never returned that McDonald’s. Right by our house.
And I had to throw away a booster seat and a pair of white shorts.
I try to give my kids plenty of play opportunities in other ways. I’d much rather meet up with one or two other mothers who love me enough not to judge me by my parenting skills. It takes years with the right kind of person to get there.
The good news is, I think I’m a pretty good friend. Whatever your kids do, my kids have already done it so I don’t get all judgey.
What’s your worst playgroup experience? Are you allowed back at co-op?
P.S. I’m having a hard day. My kids can’t remember their times tables but they won’t stop singing about who to call if they have a structured settlement and need cash now. Send more coffee?
Oh, and I’ll post the details of my little giveaway tomorrow.
So – once my son and a friend told another little boy (whose mom was not a Christian) that he was going to hell if he didn't believe in God. That wasn't so good.
Another time, thankfully with just one other mom/kids present, one of my kids decided he had to potty. Right then. Right there. So, he did what any self respecting boy would do – dropped his drawers and peed on a tree.
Those are the biggies, but I'm sure there are more that I've blocked from my memory.
It's really surprising any of us meet with other families more than once.
It says a lot for our tolerance for embarrassment.
I don't have any BIG stories, but so many little ones–there were times I just didn't go, because it wasn't worth it. Playdates are much more fun with older kids! 🙂
Oh, I forgot to say–most of my "little" stories are about melt-downs, which at least 1 of my kids did regularly. That always looks like a parenting problem, too.
Hey, Melinda! Glad you made it!
I really didn't like doing much with my kids until they were five.
And I've never taken them on a plane. If we couldn't drive, we didn't go.
I don't remember play dates, much too long ago.
P.S. My daughter can't remember how to determine the perimeter of a triangle but can provide the entire history of all characters in the first season of Heroes.
Deanne, that was the good season.
I hate play dates. I prefer to just play in the yard. If I'm going to the park, it's stressful enough w/out a known audience. :p
Texanna
I hear you, Texanna. If/when they do something embarrassing, the smaller the audience the better.
My little girl is only one so we haven't had that many playdates. Last we went to a class for moms and babies where we didn't know anyone there. My baby decided to make friends by ripping hairbows off of multiple little girls' heads. Luckily they didn't cry but I was still a little embarrassed!
-Newish Mommy
Oh, Newish Mommy, such a picture! Your daughter holding hairbows trailing strands of hair and other little girls standing around with bald spots!
Any other mom who is NASM (not a supermom) would understand.