Whether you are new to a city, have a new baby, or are transitioning from work to the stay-at-home mom gig, you need mom-friends and your babies and children need to socialize. The easiest way to do this? Join a playgroup! Not convinced? Here are my top ten reasons why I think every mom should be in a playgroup:
1. Sanity check – Moms will tell you when you’re crazy and when you’re exactly on point. Husbands/dads, grandparents, in-laws, and neighbors all have ulterior motives. Mom-friends know. And they’ll steer you in the right direction.
2. No mom should stay in the house all day.
3. Adult conversation. Granted, when you surround yourself with moms, we ultimately end up talking about our kids. But, at least we put sentences together, and don’t throw a temper tantrum if we don’t get what we want. OK, well most of us won’t throw temper tantrums.
4. You can share kid-stuff. Let’s admit it… the size 3-6 month clothes only last a few weeks, an exer-saucer only a few months, and that baby bouncer… well ours was a total flop. So, plan on exchanging things with your mom-friends, and you’ll save some dough and attic space.
5. Empathy. Some conversations need to stay inside “the circle.” There are some things (i.e. potty training details and breastfeeding issues), that moms need to share with other moms who have “been there done that.” Your 20-something, childless, gal-pal probably can’t help you with the great pull-up vs. big boy underwear debate.
6. A playdate is an excuse to shower. Sometimes even to wear mascara. I know, I’m pushing it.
7. Try new things. I probably never would have stepped in an art class with my boys if it hadn’t been scheduled on my playgroup’s calendar. Turns out, they loves to paint. I like to decorate my refrigerator with his tasteful works of art like, “Bunch of Snakes” and “Sad Panda.” Yes, my oldest self-titles his art.
8. Your kid needs friends, too. This may not seem obvious when they are six months old, but at sixteen months, you’ll definitely appreciate that you have begun to socialize your child. You’ll be able to tackle issues like sharing, shyness, aggressiveness, and manners head on.
9. You’ll find motivation to go to the gym, and maybe even a few pals to drag along with you. I’ve never been more motivated to hit the treadmill as I was after a swim playdate where a mom only three months postpartum rocked a bikini. Totally jealous.
10. I’m biased. I’ve met the most awesome mom-friends in a playgroup, so I think it’s only inevitable you can too! I’ve shared how to connect with local playgroups in this column, “It Takes a Village,” and if those don’t strike your fancy, peruse Meetup.com for a local playgroup that matches your interests.
