iriemade Skip to Content

Repost: Playdate Therapy

Today, I’m missing “Wednesdays”. Haven’t had one since last summer due to life changing events and tight schedules. Here’s a repost from exactly a year ago. Sometimes I still get the “playdate jitters” as I continue designing my life element by element…

Park Day March 17, 2010

Before giving birth to my son, I never thought much about playdates. But after he was born and the months began to fly by, I started to realize that my boy was growing up. He needed to be around others so that he could learn from them, grow up with them, and embrace childhood together as friends.

Thinking about it all gave me an uncomfortable feeling because that meant that I had to interact with other moms. Moms who would be older than I and more advanced in their lives. Moms that may possibly turn their noses up at me because I’m not on their level.

Some playdates go totally wrong.

Overly judgmental moms do exist.

We don’t have this, we’re not yet.

What about the ice breaker moment?

I’ll probably have to answer questions I wish I didn’t have to.

I’ll just stay at home.

All of these thoughts swarmed through my head at once.

How would I connect with moms who shared my same interests and ambitions? How would I connect with moms who would accept me for who I am in the midst of what I thought to be my imperfect life?

Park Day March 10, 2010

Luckily I found a group of girls who I am fortunate to have in my life. Surprisingly they all blog or did at one point in time. We all have much in common, we agree, and we respectfully disagree. We are of various ages; twenties and thirties, me being the youngest but not at all the oddball. Each Wednesday get-together is like therapy. We are able to talk and listen (it’s my nature to listen), sip coffee and enjoy a potluck brunch while the kids play.

The kids, they get along so well. I remember our first playdate. We were welcomed with hugs. It felt like home. Jayden walked right on in, grabbed a toy, and smiled at the other children. He exchanged hugs and kisses too. He obviously gets his social genes from his dad.

I honestly don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for our Wednesdays. I’d probably feel all alone and sheltered, still waiting for things to be perfect enough for me to mingle with other moms. My son would still be waiting to splash in the mud for the first time.

Park Day March 10, 2010

Do you attend playdates? Have you ever been apprehensive about attending them? How’d you find your group?

Long Schrenk

Saturday 7th of May 2011

Just thought i would comment and say neat design, did you code it yourself? Looks great.

Susan

Friday 15th of April 2011

Finishing up my entries for BYB...thought I would say hi while I was here :-) Have a great weekend!

Cam - Bibs & Baubles

Wednesday 13th of April 2011

My little guy and I have done our share of playdates. It's been a good experience. It's always a bit unnerving to meet new people but sometimes kids are the best icebreakers!

Tricia @NightOwlmama

Monday 11th of April 2011

NO but wish I did. Funny enough I noticed your in Chicago and SO am I!!

I have 4 children my younger two are boys ages 5,3 stopping by from Boost your buzz to say hello :D have a great day

Yakini

Monday 11th of April 2011

Since our boys are in day care full time and able to get much of the socialization piece from there, I never really felt compelled to have regularly scheduled playdates.

However, these days Chase (our toddler) seems so bored on the weekends... roaming listlessly throughout the house, so over all his toys, resentful of all the attention that Bryce needs, and ultimately getting himself into trouble (ie, time-out and occasionally getting popped) because he is acting out (no doubt, out of boredom). It's at these times that I feel we need to offer him something more, ie, peers his own age to interact with on the weekends. He has so much fun at school, so many activities/people to stimulate him - and our house is just... our house. When it's warm outside we go to the playground, but that is just a couple hours in the day.

It's funny, I actually know a few moms in the community, who have reached out to me for playdates - even aggressively so. And I've resisted those offers. Not so sure why. In part due to some of the reasons you've described (ie, feeling anxious/shy/unsure of how that would go), and also because I tend to be more of a reclusive person and would rather be at home with my family. But that's really not fair to Chase, the more I think about it. So thanks for this post, as you've totally inspired me to spread my wings and step outside my little box/comfort zone. Chase deserves it!

Comments are closed.

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares