I've tried texting a few with no response and calling others with an awkward exchange. I want to invite the kids with the parents over, not a drop off play date, I'm not free babysitting, give me a break! So that got me thinking if the rest of his school years would be like that -- parents not interested in forming a relationship with other parents while the kids play together. Is that like a thing of the past? Is it going to be just as hard finding mom friends as it night be form my kid to make friends at school?
I was really looking forward to meeting new friends that we had our kids in common since the current mom friends I have live far away (23-25 miles west or east of us!) and have kiddos older or babies (seriously not one is the age of S or Z and for a while it was fine and worked but now its just not a great fit)! Not to mention they all work nearly 40 hours a week and their weekends are always booked (always! like I need to pencil in something a month in advance to hang out with them!). It was great to meet a few good moms while Z was at gymnastic lessons and S was going to preschool, but all those contacts have faded away, and believe me I have contacted those parents again and again to get together so the kids can play and we can get to know some new people, but every time I reach out I get nothing back! I get nothing back and it makes me sad for the kids more than anything!
It's hard making friends as a grown up! A lot harder than I thought it was going to be!
So what's a mom to do, how do you meet new friends as a grown up? Or the new trending term "tribe". I'm just a girl, looking for a tribe to call on for some adult conversation while the kids play and a couple or two for backyard hangouts so we don't have to spend money on a babysitter.
Well I came up with a few ideas, and found a couple others in my search!
Reconnect with old friends - Well I've been doing that with no avail so I'm not sure how that one works for other, but I'll keep it in my back pocket.
Connect with co-workers - Ok, that could work, most of my husbands are older with no kids, but it's possible. As for me, i work contract jobs and I don't even know who is in my area, it's like we are all mystery co-workers, I hear about them but have never met them!
Connections from social media - Hmmm, not sure about this, maybe a meetup dot com group is what this example is leaning toward? Local facebook page groups, that makes more sense, it's the same basic idea of chatting with a stranger at the playground or bar.
Volunteer - Yes, this is a great example that when the kids are old enough we will definitely utilize!
Take a class - That is on my goal list and I'm trying but between class times and budgets, it's another save for another time idea.
MOMS Club or MOPS - Yea, that worked great when S was born and I did make a few great people, but we were on the outskirts of the groups "area" so a bit much to drive toward Forest Park every other day for a play date and nobody came "all the way out" to our house for play dates which was very disappointing. Not to mention as soon as those kids hit 2 years old they were all in preschool/dayschool and S was left with the infants to play with! It works for awhile but not long term.
Your kids sports team - Yes, between swim lessons and baseball both coming up, these are two opportunities to reach out to other parents sitting and watching their kids to strike up something and over the weeks get together, for sure!
Patience. Not everyone is do gung-ho about making friends or new people in general. Stay connected but not clingy. Some might come around, some old friends might resurface, but remember this is the phase you are in right now. It might be for awhile but you still have your family unit, so just be patient.
I'D RATHER HAVE 4 QUARTERS THAN 100 PENNIES
xo
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