playgroup from hell- vent - Page 2

[lifescholar]

I'm so sorry that happened!

My playgroup was AWESOME! Mothers were always welcomed with open arms...breastfeeders, formula feeders, co-sleeper, CIO'ers, everyone!!

That one was for babies up to 18 months.

The other ones I have gone to are for children up to 6 years. THOSE ones are very "cliquey" and I don't like them. The moms stand in their little groups and talk ONLY to each other...while their children run around wild and take toys from the younger kids...nice, eh?

Fortunately, a local mother started up an online forum, and I have met some FABULOUS moms there...many of them are AP moms, too!

It shouldn't be so hard to find nice moms!!

[thehappyhippo]

Originally Posted by St. Margaret

Little Children by Tom Perotta (sp?), while being about all kinds of other dark stuff, also has some great skewering of the snotty playgroup mom mentality, especially in the first part of the book... I thought it was pretty funny.

I picked this up at a local library once and thought it to be good too.

[dillonandmarasmom]

The *only* playgroup I have stuck with is my SAHD group on Tuesdays. A bunch of men, lots of kids of various ages and me, the "token mom".

I have had some seriously annoying playgroup trials with SAHM's that make conversation about their child's crying fits *from their crib* at bedtime, how they only buy organic cereal from Trader Joe's, which Bugablahblah stroller they've got...yada. yada, yada...and watch them drive off in their Jumbo SUV's...it gets to be a bit much. Like a "top this one!" contest among moms! Oh, and the bug eyes and secret glances I received for poppin out the breast for dd...oh man... SHeesh!! :

A good playgroup is soooo hard to come by. I hope you find one you love and can call home soon.

[BookGoddess]

Originally Posted by felix23

. I've visited a couple that were okay, but I've come to the conclusion that I'm no a playgroup kind of gal.

I've come to the same conclusion too. We take our DD to family gatherings, the occasional Gymboree class, and the park but I'm just not big on playgroups. I went to an all-girls school so I'm intimately familiar with the backbiting, snotty, queen bee type of behavior exhibited by some moms. Been there done that. I'm in a different phase in my life and I don't need that crap anymore.

[ReuseCrafter]

Originally Posted by Sarahbunny

OOH, did you read "Little Earthquakes" by her? I loved that book.

Yes, I've read them all, she's good -- and has a new one out too.

Originally Posted by St. Margaret

Little Children by Tom Perotta (sp?), while being about all kinds of other dark stuff, also has some great skewering of the snotty playgroup mom mentality, especially in the first part of the book... I thought it was pretty funny.

Ohh I'll have to check it out.

Sorry OT

[OakBerry]

Sorry you got treated that way.
I already knew I wasn't the "playgroup type" so I never even tried. I've met some nice mamas at our local library and through ds's preschool. There are 3 or 4 of us that chat often, and we've sort of formed our own playgroup of sorts with our kids. We don't meet regularly, and there is very little pressure. I like it!

[mom2mich]

Sorry about your experience.

Yes yes yes. Playgroups I've been a part of and I've heard about from others are so annoying. Sometimes I think it's like being in a classroom where you've got your sorority clique (only takes two to form one of these) who think they know what is best for everyone and then the rest of the moms who are too afraid to speak their mind or who become an outcast for being different from the popular crowd or ___ you get the picture.

It takes time to make good mom friends and I don't even think it comes down to gently parenting the exact same way. Friends respect each other's differences and it's hard finding a group of moms with whom you click, on cue, right when you have a baby or even within the first couple years!

Oh, and one other annoying thing is when moms think a play group is a place for free babysitting so they go off an talk while not knowingly allowing their kids to ___ giving the other moms no other choice but to deal with it. And the poor kids. It's not their fault.

[AngelBee]

I am so sorry you had such a weird experience.