Classified ad to start playgroup?
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Classified ad to start playgroup?
| Sat, 04-24-2004 - 7:38pm |
I'm looking to make some new friends. I'm living around the same place I grew up, but all but 3 people from high school do I talk to. One is married (barely), the other two aren't, and none have kids. I'm shy and not good at meeting new people. I do things with DS such as, go to the YMCA, play in the park, preschool reading time at library, etc., but I just can't make friends with people.
SO....my question is....how do I make friends? I had the (dumb) idea to place a classified ad to possibly start a playgroup. Would go something like this: "Stay-at-home mom of 20 month old son, interested in starting playgroup. If interested please call
(XXX)XXX-XXXX." What do you think?

Good luck!
Not a bad idea, but you have to worry about the wackos out there...especially considering you're bringing your baby into the picture.
You can also do a google search to see if something similar already exists. In my area, there's a local message board on MSN Groups. While it doesn't completely eliminate the wacko factor, you casn at least get to know people through their posts before you meet IRL.
honestly, about 30 moms showed up, and we had a blast!! alot of them were in the same boat as i was, lonely, young, and sahm, and we hit it off. i exchanged #'s with about 10 or 15 of them, and we became a loose playgroup, we didn't meet once a week or anything, but we got together when we could. i became pretty close friends with 4 of them, and very close friends with one. many of the moms present made friends with the other moms, so it was a great experience for everyone.
if you do it this way it's not so much pressure, and if someone doesn't like you there's no awkwardness, kwim? btw, since you said you were shy this might be a great idea for you, you wouldn't even have to tell anyone that you were the one who put up the flyers if you didn't want to.
anyway, that was my thought,
clarity
I've been home for 7 years now full time with 3 boys. It can be incredibly lonely sometimes (It's amazing how quiet the house is at nap time--almost so quiet you start wishing the kids would wake up. Almost.) I realized after the first couple years that rather that look for stimulation outside, which is always a little less reliable, I needed to find it inside. I went through a couple different "hobbies" before I found a couple that I fell in love with (stained glass work and writing)--and can actually make a little side money with too. I realized that I needed something that reminded me that I'm a grown up person, with talents and abilities outside of the kids. Now, when I do get a chance to meet with friends, I feel like I'm bringing more to the relationship that just an exhausted attention starved me lol! It's easier to make friends when you're feeling better about yourself... Maybe consider taking a night class in something you think you'd enjoy--you'll come away with something new to do, plus you're bound to meet new people who may be in much the same boat as you.
Good luck, and remember you're not "dumb" for feeling a little lost--you're just a regular normal human, like all of us.
Angela