Out of the House - Groups, Libraries, Play dates

[JordanKX]

DS is 9 months. I have the email address for our local mom's group. I've been holding on to it because up until recently, I haven't felt the need for too much else. We have a great time together!
But now that he's crazy crawly super-mobile kiddo, our interactions are different. He's playing with REAL toys. We wrestle, we peek-a-boo, we chase each other around the house. We don't have a "schedule", but there are certain things we do each day - play outside, go to the park, wear him around while I need to clean, let him crawl and explore (and destroy) the house. Etc. I make real meals with him, so we eat together.
We are ... Really Together. (so different than when he was a wee one and I could be on the phone, or WORK, or other things while he was sleeping or enthralled with a toy for a long time)

Suddenly I'm feeling like... I spend a lot of my time Not speaking anything but baby-talk. That sounds horrible... it's not a complaint. But now that we're SO interactive, I can see where getting involved with others would be a benefit. Maybe not so much for him - although it'd be fun to watch - but for me. Even if just to give me ideas for new things to do.

So I wonder... what are you guys doing, if you stay home? Are you joining groups and going to story times? Are you setting play-dates? Or are you still living in the one on one moments with your lil ones?

[cristeen]

I'm doing play dates at least once a week. The MDC mamas in our county have been getting together every week, and then I know a few other MDCers that I've gotten together with one-on-one.

I also have a mother's helper that comes over on occasion to spend time with him so I can have some time to do a project.

We also do LLL meetings and we have a friend around the corner who we get together with maybe once a month.

[lifeguard]

At that age I was going to a drop-in play centre close to our house a couple mornings a week, La Leche meetings twice a month & a library baby story time once a week. All that has morphed into a nice routine for us even now & I've made some good mommy friends in town & now ds has a couple of playmates.

[Beauchamp]

I've been kind of holing up at home. I DEFINITELY need to get out more, but for some reason have been hesitant.

I just moved to a new state, and am trying to get up the courage/motivation to go to the LLL meeting here next month.

[kismetbaby]

I get out and do stuff with other mom and babes 2-3x a week. . .and I have been doing so since our LO was about 3 months old. We moved to a new town when he was 2m and I just decided I needed to make connections in my new community. And I haven't looked back! Its great. . .he loves getting out and seeing new faces and so do I. And I have made some really nice mom friends in the process.

We go to LLL once a month. A parent baby group once a week (this one is good for my sanity). A music class once a week (my ds LOVES this I can't recommend it enough). And now we tend meet up with our mom/babe friends for lunch or a playdate or the swimming pool etc every other week or so. I was lucky that there was a center within walking distance of us that hosts many mom/baby things.

I tend to be more introverted, but I am really glad I made the effort to go out to things with ds. We both benefit. And he's definitely a people-person, so he is helping me to be more outgoing too.

For other ideas: story-times at libraries, infant swim classes, mommy and me yoga

[Knitting Mama]

Cecilia still mostly hates the car, so we don't do a ton. But I lose my sanity if I don't get out a few times a week, so my usual standby is going to my mom's house. I think we're going to try storytime this week or next week, maybe she'll like it. The library's only a mile away, thankfully.

[Nicole730]

Our town has a few message boards and I meet up with mom's and kids through there. There is usually one playdate a week, Mom's Night Outs - which are great!, and then I have a friend I usually meet up with once a week.

If you do end up finding playmates for your little one, don't worry if they aren't the exact same age. My son's only 'friend' is almost 2 years older than him. Half the time they just parallel play anyway, so it's not a big deal.

[coldandsleepy]

We're just the opposite. I was at risk for PPD (and unfortunately did develop it) and part of my strategy for keeping myself together was to get involved in things constantly with my son.

In the average week, we go to 2 storytimes at the library, 1 PPD support group, 1 new parents group, and 3-4 playdates.

Even WITH all of these social groups, we still spend plenty of time one on one.

[tzs]

we do a playgroup once a week. it's mainly for her...she honestly get's so bored at home and loves all the activity. they do a mom's night out once a month so it;s fun to do some boozing but we always end up talking about the babies the whole time and i feel so cliche.

lately that it's smeltering hot out we've been doing pool parties in backyards with several other baby friends. a baby pool, free vitamin d, and some homemade baby popsicles and talk of margaritas. it's fun.