This morning we took ourselves off to Mothers Group. I was running a bit late but never to late for a quick happy snap. We opted for a cheesy first day of school type photo, standing on the street with oversized school nappy bag in tow.
When we arrived I was a little bit overwhelmed at the amount of people in the group... 25.
25 mums, 25 babies, 23 prams (two of us had slings) and as PB very eagerly pointed out – 50 boobs. (Um, thanks PB). Apparently there has been a huge baby boom in our area. What else was there to do last winter?
And you know what? It was ok. It wasn't amazing but I'll go again. The mums were friendly, and although I didn't really hit it off with anyone straight away I didn't expect to on the first day. And as Kristi pointed out, I can learn more from people that aren't like me than I can from people that are. Perhaps that's true. But they're mums. And I'm a mum. We all have that in common...
It's a good starting point.
What are they like? I feel so uncomfortable any time I have to be with a group of women that are nothing like me. Fortunately, as I'm getting older I am learning to not be intimidated or even annoyed at times with people who think, or choose to live their lives differently than I do. I think it's teaching me patience and tolerance along the way :) There's always opportunity to learn from every situation that we are in.
ReplyDeleteI love your huge bag!
Anna,
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet photo. She is such a snuggler!
I'm starting to look into slings, do you like this one you're wearing? Any other recommendations?
Xo
Ditto on the bag! Can I ask where you got it? I think the fact that there were so many mums indicates they are in the same boat as you--eager to meet new mums and figure the whole thing out. Good luck to all of you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. ♥
ReplyDeleteI think you're going in with a good attitude. There will of course be women that just click and are friends for life... and other's that just aren't your cup of tea.
Have a lovely weekend, and a lovely first mother's day. I hope Miss Rose spoils you with looks of love. x
you're such a beautiful mommy!
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful school photo! Sounds like it was a good start to the MG.
ReplyDeletelook forward to a school report next week! take care, xx
I agree with Chantelle, some women you just click with. But you know what? The first two mothers I made friends with after a few weeks at mothers group are no longer really friends. But two of the mums in the background who I didn't get to know for quite awhile but who quietly made an impression on me are now very close friends. Funny how that happens. :)
ReplyDeleteYou two look so super sweet.
gorgeous photo!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a fan of my mothers group to begin with, but endured it for the first year. Then something changed and we all became wonderfully close. We all had our different styles, but we were all mums, and loved our children dearly in our own ways.
I must say though, 25 is a massive group! Maybe they should split it in half or something?
Tis a bit like the first day of school, mother's group. Everyone with their crisp prams and eager faces. I started mine 3 weeks ago and like you was a little reluctant. They seem so contrived/awkward. I was however pleasantly surprised. While no one has instantly 'grabbed' me, I figure we are all in the same boat- waking up at 2am bleary eyed to feed our nuggets, all riding the wave of new motherhood etc. I think more than anything it is nice to have a wee sense of community. x
ReplyDeleteHi there. My 10 cents... I felt exactly like you about mothers group. I had several friends who gave birth the same year as I had my first, so why did I need to go and chat with a group of strangers about it? I didn't click with anyone right away either. But, it turned out to be just like others have said, we had fun for the first couple of years. Our kids were all within a month of each other so it was interesting/fun to watch them develop and see the mums' varying parenting styles. We dissipated after about 2 years. But ONE of them is now one of my bestest friends ever. And our girls are now FIVE years old and the bestest of best friends. Even though we have moved from Sydney and don't see them as much any more, the girls are SUPER TIGHT! (Known each other since 4 weeks old) It's very sweet. Have fun. x
ReplyDeleteYou are beautiful!
ReplyDelete6 months into mother's group I realised that I needed more in common with them than the fact that we were all mothers.
In saying that I did learn a lot...and I became really confident in the way D and I were choosing to parent.
I love your stylin' outfit. Email coming soon (i promise) x
Thanks for all the supportive comments ladies. It's nice to know most of us felt the same initially, and that sometimes you can find a good friendship or two from it.
ReplyDeletePS. Laura – the bag is by Ally Capellino, a UK accesories designer. I got it from the mens section of Liberty. I didn't realise it would be the perfect nappy bag a couple of years later!
Anna, so glad you had a positive firts time at MG. My group was pretty big as well 20 mums, babies and sometimes a few extras with a dad or grandparent making a visit, so it got quite crowded. The group was organised by the local health clinic and you would attend until the babe was 16 weeks old and then you would "graduate" to the park. So it went from 20 down to 12 in the week we graduated which coincided with 11 other babes turning 16 weeks and now we are a cozy 8 families, Give it a bit of time until you work out if it is going to work for you and BB.
ReplyDeleteSorry again for the long comment have a lovely day
Engracia
xx
Rosie looks so snuggly up there. I swear using a sling is the reason my two were so calm and happy as clams. Best thing I ever used.
ReplyDeleteGlad it went well. I was thinking of you.
Rosie looks so snuggly up there. I swear using a sling is the reason my two were so calm and happy as clams. Best thing I ever used.
ReplyDeleteGlad it went well. I was thinking of you.
We've just found your blog through 16 House and we're enchanted. What a lovely family!
ReplyDeleteyeah, you've just got to dive in and give it a go, Anna! If you can come away with one potential connection, then that can be so nourishing! I found mgs in the blue mtns (where benny was born) so hard... until I cam across the steiner school at wwfalls. we have followed through with it here and i find it a very nourishing environment. all the best - you have heaps of blog-land connections!
ReplyDeletexx tali
Ah, sounds daunting but seems like you got the best out of it.
ReplyDeleteWanted to ask where you scored your nappy bag? very cool
Gx
Simply beautiful photo.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day! You are one fantastic mama, your photos show your maternal glow!
ReplyDelete25 people sounds scary! I hated mothers group at first, hated it. But after sticking at it for a month or so it started to grow on me and soon we all became close...it'll happen! It just takes a while to get used to all those strangers, especially when you have a very unpredictable little one with you that you just can't control(at least that's what it was like for me)!!
ReplyDelete