Jan 21 2009
Playdate at the mall
The boys and I “crashed” a local groups’ playdate today. We were invited by a member, via the internet…so no one knew what we looked like and we didn’t know them either. I was glad of the fact that we didn’t really know anyone so we could slip in and out without being noticed. I know the boys need some socialization…as do I, but I wanted to make sure it was a good “fit” before we committed to a group. I don’t know if you have to pay dues to these groups, or if you have to sign some papers, or what exactly joining entails, but I didn’t want to say “yes” without knowing we were all going to be happy with it.
We arrived early, so as to not stick out as the “inconsiderate newcomers,” and I made a point to position us near the other mothers…didn’t want to seem completely unsocial, just in case we dug the whole experience. No one said anything…not “Hi, “not “Hey get out of here,” nothing. The boys ran and played…looking up from where ever they were on occassion to make sure I was still there. The mothers’ just sat in the seats and watched the children run around…every once in a while the mother that seemed to be in charge would police the slide area, but other than that, the children were left to their own devices.
One cute little blonde girl kept pushing at one of my boys…the other mothers thought it was cute…giggling at the way the little girl seemed to be bossing my son around. I, however, found it annoying. I have to try to raise these little boys to respect women…to treat them well and value them as individuals, and here this little 2 foot tall female is steering my little man around like he’s her toy. No thank you. Not too long after Ms Busy-Body started pushing my son around his brother came over and crawled into the stroller, as if to say, “that’s enough of that.”
It was just TOO overstimulating…25 to 30 children running around with little or no organization…it was more than we could handle. I’m glad no one spoke to us or invited us back. That must have been the group for younger stay-at-home moms. We need to keep looking until we find a group for middle-aged, single mother’s of non-bossy girls or just boys. Better yet, we’ll socialize with one or two or maybe even five other children and their parents at once. It was just too much for us to be comfortable with.
