So ... am I just a crazy mom?

MrsTotty · March 2009

One of my coworkers (yes, a male) thinks it's absolutely crazy that I have playdates for my son on the weekends and on my weekday off. We usually have at least one nestie GTG/trip the park. The past couple of weeks we've had more than that because of the nice weather.

So I asked him, 'so, you or your wife never took your boys on play dates when they were little? (he has two boys in elem. school)?'

"Nope."

'You never took them to meet friends at the park?'

"Nope. I've seen the whole playdate thing in tv shows before though ..."

WTF? Am I the only one who thinks this is just strange?

mustangsallie · March 2009

Well, of course you are crazy!

But seriously.... he sounds boring.

ABMcKinney · March 2009

You aren't crazy at all! My DH works Saturdays and I almost always make plans with my friends that have kids. That's what being a mom is all about! You find fun and new ways to entertain/stimulate your child. Plus it's fun for me to hang out with my mom friends.

annamie · March 2009

Jackson will simply be much more adjusted to others than his children. I can't wait until the doc gives us clearance to take Julianna around other babies! We'll be going out all the time!

EuroChick · March 2009

Huh? Did a I miss something? So he just sat at home with his kids? Honestly this guy sounds weird... Dalia goes to daycare 4 days a week and usually has at least one to two playdates a week plus swim class. Frankly I would get cabin fever if I didn't set up social stuff with her.

Toosdai · March 2009

It's not strange, it's just different. To each their own....

KMLP · March 2009

I wish we had people to have play dates with. ?DS goes to daycare so he is around other babies there, but I don't have any friends with babies. ?I live in a small, rural town and there are no mommy and me classes or anything.

niceneese · March 2009

I think some people are just much bigger introverts. Maybe his wife just isn't very social, or the kids were in daycare where there were a bunch of kids. I think I need playdates way more than DS does at this point.

ibfloridagirl · March 2009

DH is happy that i get out of the house and hangout with other moms. He says he worries about Ike and i being couped up in the house for too long

IckyThump · March 2009

Crazy, no. But you're both a little judge-y. Not everyone gets into the whole "playdate" thing until their kids are a little older or school aged. The whole Mom's group/playdate thing is a relatively new thing. My mom thinks DS is a little young for playdates I take him on because I didn't really play with other kids until I went to pre-school.

And to the PP, I highly doubt his children are poorly adjusted because his kids didn't go to the park every week when they were 8 months old. Confused

HisWifeHerMom · March 2009

I don't think it's strange. I never took DD or DS (yet) but that's because I don't know anyone with kiddos my babies ages and the St. Louis board on the Nest is dead. Wish I could find one though. I am trying. Plus, I would love some Mommy interaction, you know?

citygirl_ · March 2009

IckyThump:

Crazy, no. But you're both a little judge-y. Not everyone gets into the whole "playdate" thing until their kids are a little older or school aged. The whole Mom's group/playdate thing is a relatively new thing. My mom thinks DS is a little young for playdates I take him on because I didn't really play with other kids until I went to pre-school.

And to the PP, I highly doubt his children are poorly adjusted because his kids didn't go to the park every week when they were 8 months old.

Ditto to this. "Playdates" are a pretty new thing, especially for babies under a year who "play" together for about 5 seconds before going off to do their own thing. Jude and I hang out with other people, but I'm not one to schedule "playdates" because it seems so forced to me.

MrsTotty · March 2009

I didn't mean that I'm a better mom ... and I didn't mean that it's weird to NOT take your kid on playdates when they're 8 months old, but he says he NEVER took his kids out. Like, even when they were 3, 5, 7 years? I mean, I guess by that point they play with each other though.

And he lives in DFW, NOT in a rural area by any stretch of the imagination. I just think it's funny HE thinks I'M weird because I like getting my kid out of the house every once in a while ... I just don't get staying cooped up at home. My kids gets cabin fever crazy bad though ...

Amymarie13 · March 2009

Ditto IckyThump and Toosdai. At this age, sure, the LO's get something out of it...not as much as the moms do, but they can learn from interacyions with others. But they are not going to be thwarted by not doing it. Everone reacts to life situations differently.

It's annoying that he implied you were weird for taking your son out and enjoying nature though!! I do thing getting outside and getting fresh air and sunlight is important.

ibfloridagirl · March 2009

Sorry, but even though Ike is only 5 months old i KNOW he enjoys his time out with babies closer to his age. He talked and talked to his little friend yesterday and does so every week at playgroup.

preacherswife04 · March 2009

I don't think it's weird either way. i don't do "playdates" b/c i don't really have any close friends where I live. I know I didn't go on "playdates" as a baby and I socially adjusted just fine.

cc605 · March 2009

playdates keep me sane and get me out of the house. We have a playdate at least 2x a week.

Jettaky · March 2009

We haven't been on a play date yet Sad There really isn't anyone around me to get together with. I would love to see him around other kids his age though.

PS I love the new pix of the mouse!!

Mrs.Hagen2 · March 2009

To each their own...I personally couldn't live without play dates. Its the only way I get a break during the week. Plus DD loves them!

annamie · March 2009

citygirl_:
IckyThump:

Crazy, no. But you're both a little judge-y. Not everyone gets into the whole "playdate" thing until their kids are a little older or school aged. The whole Mom's group/playdate thing is a relatively new thing. My mom thinks DS is a little young for playdates I take him on because I didn't really play with other kids until I went to pre-school.

And to the PP, I highly doubt his children are poorly adjusted because his kids didn't go to the park every week when they were 8 months old.

Ditto to this. "Playdates" are a pretty new thing, especially for babies under a year who "play" together for about 5 seconds before going off to do their own thing. Jude and I hang out with other people, but I'm not one to schedule "playdates" because it seems so forced to me.

I do believe that babies being around other babies is good for them and helps them adjust - that's all I was saying. DD isn't allowed other people right now outside of parents and grandparents and this has caused strong separation anxiety that we are trying to combat. While I know that she will be fine and that she is developing wonderfully, I can't help but think that if she were allowed other people more often, she would be more comfortable. I spoke out of jealousy of being able to do this. I think playdates are wonderful for children. Not at all a requirement, but definitely helpful.

lizzyjames · March 2009

He's weird. His wife probably didn't know anyone else with younger kids.

DD loves the play dates! As seen in my sigggy! I wish we could go to the park during the week though.

Jessibell · March 2009

I guess I'm weird too.

I've been enjoying all the playdates and Mommy outings lately, and I know that Ainsley has too.

And I am super excited for our swim lessons!

vanillacourage · March 2009

DS has a playdate every day - it's called daycare.

KelBelle22 · March 2009

Jessibell- Where do you get those adorable hair bows for your daughter?

brandonsfuturewife07 · March 2009

KMLP:
I wish we had people to have play dates with. DS goes to daycare so he is around other babies there, but I don't have any friends with babies. I live in a small, rural town and there are no mommy and me classes or anything.

ditto. i just found a babysitter for him when i'm at track meets, so he'll be around other babies then. otherwise, i don't know anyone else with babies at all. i wish.

eowynmn · March 2009

I think that daycare fulfills the playdate requirement since there are other kids there. Your kid is watched by grammas so there is no interaction, so I think it's very ok/good that you do this. We also do ECFE which is really one big play date for the children. If I were a stay at home mom, I'd go on playdates probably twice a week minimum. You do need to get out, and it's very healthy for children to adjust to other children.

Currently oliver has basically zero stranger anxiety and I attribute part of it to daycare.

tteacher · March 2009

Totty,

You aren't crazy at all; the more stimulation a baby can get the better as long as they have time to rest in the day. There is also a direct correlation to verbal and reading skills that can be traced back to how much interaction children have with peers and adults.

I am not that great about doing playdates, but my soon to be 8 month giant of a baby (he wears 18 month clothing) has done much better lately since he has been going to gym twice a week and swim lessons.

Though I know some people are opposed, we also watch Mickey Mouses' Playhouse and Little Einsteins together - he loves the singing. I no longer work for school districts but I work for a company that develops courses for educators.......what is important is that children are social and well adjusted by the time they get to kinder. While most studies show that the crazy parenst who push their kids to read and everything go over the top, meaning that all of the kids usually balence out by the time they are in their 20s.It is critical that children are ready to learn, so that they don't fall behind once they enter school. Children are expected to have the social skills to learn sooner now than back in the 70s and 80s. Heck, for my test to get into first grade, all I had to know as my alphabet, how to count to 100 and what the players did for baseball. Now kids, have to know this and more for kinder.

Your colleagues kids could be behind, you never know!

papagena · March 2009

KMLP:
I wish we had people to have play dates with. DS goes to daycare so he is around other babies there, but I don't have any friends with babies. I live in a small, rural town and there are no mommy and me classes or anything.

Ditto this - I wish I had friends with kids to have play dates with. Unfortunately, all the activites that I know of with other parents & children are while I'm at work, and DH isn't as interested in them as I would be if I was SAH. Maybe I should start looking into swimming at the Y...

jenifairies · March 2009

IckyThump:

Crazy, no. But you're both a little judge-y. Not everyone gets into the whole "playdate" thing until their kids are a little older or school aged. The whole Mom's group/playdate thing is a relatively new thing. My mom thinks DS is a little young for playdates I take him on because I didn't really play with other kids until I went to pre-school.

And to the PP, I highly doubt his children are poorly adjusted because his kids didn't go to the park every week when they were 8 months old.

Ditto. This is exactly what I was thinking. DD and I do go hang out with friends of mine that have kids, but that's for me!

lanie26 · March 2009

IckyThump:

Crazy, no. But you're both a little judge-y. Not everyone gets into the whole "playdate" thing until their kids are a little older or school aged. The whole Mom's group/playdate thing is a relatively new thing. My mom thinks DS is a little young for playdates I take him on because I didn't really play with other kids until I went to pre-school.

And to the PP, I highly doubt his children are poorly adjusted because his kids didn't go to the park every week when they were 8 months old.

Ditto. Other kids. Pile of manure. They're all fun and stimulating for an 8 month old.

Juuuudgetastic.

mikey&amie · March 2009

Jessibell:

I guess I'm weird too.

I've been enjoying all the playdates and Mommy outings lately, and I know that Ainsley has too.

And I am super excited for our swim lessons!

Me and Taylor too!!

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