Cafe Playgroup

Today Little Bear and Pufferfish and I went out to breakfast with our playgroup at this little bakery in a neighboring town. We've been there once before... its a really neat place because they have a section set up for kids with a whole bunch of toys, and they're really kid-friendly. Little Bear always claims she doesn't want to go there, but then when we get there she loves it! And Pufferfish was walking around like there was no tomorrow! She's just learning how to walk, but today she took more steps in a row than I've ever seen her take before. I'm sure in a week or two she'll be running around after Little Bear all the time!
I tried really hard to get a video on my phone of Pufferfish walking, because she was doing so great... but every time I tried to video tape it, she'd fall down or start crying! Maybe next time! I did get a few pics on my phone though. Not of the best quality but oh well... (Remember to click on them to see them full-sized!)

 

Like I said before, I enjoy these playgroups because I think its really good for Little Bear and Pufferfish to be out in the world, and hanging out with other kids, instead of always just being with me! But I am really not good at socializing. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but i have pretty severe ADHD and Executive Functioning Disorder, which didn't get diagnosed until I was an adult. When I was a kid I was always the outcast, the weird kid who nobody wanted to hang out with. Now, my close friends swear that they can't tell I have any problems at all, but I still feel like I stick out like a sore thumb when I'm around new people. I worry how that's going to effect Little Bear and Pufferfish as far as making friends, and as far as how others see them. Also, I'm not a really strict caregiver. Our family is pretty relaxed in ways that many families aren't. For instance, if its a day like today, kinda in-between warm and cool, a lot of times at the playground moms will be scolding their kids to keep their jackets on. And Little Bear will take hers off and throw it in the stroller, and I won't make her put it on. If it was 20 degrees out, yeah, I'd tell her to keep her jacket on. But if its a nice day out, I figure she's the one running around and playing, and if she's cold she'll come put her jacket back on. And I'll let Pufferfish get down and crawl around in the grass, while most of the other parents keep their babies strapped in strollers or carriers. I figure I want Pufferfish to get something out of the experience too, and she's going to get something out of crawling around and exploring, not being strapped to me the whole day! Things like that. Sometimes I worry that the other kids' parents are looking at us like we're sort of trashy or something. Plus we live in one of the poorer towns of an affluent county, and the other parents there seem to come from the more affluent towns, so we have that going against us too. Sometimes Little Bear meets kids at the playgroup that she gets along really well with, and she wants me to ask their parents if they can come over and play at our house someday... and I'm nervous to ask because I'm afraid those parents aren't going to want their kids to come over to our house. I don't want people to judge Little Bear and Pufferfish like that. They're really awesome, beautiful, funny, smart, free-spirited kids, and I'm nervous that people are going to just think of them as those poor girls in the playgroup with the crazy auntie!
Oh well, I'm probably just being paranoid... What do you think?

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Comments

[Allison]

Oh that first picture is WONDERFUL! That huge smile on her face is so precious.

:-D

[andi]

Aw, what sweet kids!

Thanks so much for leaving a comment over at my place. :)

[Cecily]

OH I'm with you on things like exploring and jackets and stuff that in the long run doesn't matter. If you get too caught up in that stuff you'll eventually go nuts and your kids will miss out on some great things in life. Okay, so maybe that's a little dramatic, but you know what I mean.

Love the pictures. I wish we had a place like that around here. You know, OTHER than McDonalds. And it sounds like regardless of how you feel in social situations you are doing what you think is best for your kids. I applaud you for that!!

[Kellan]

What cute pictures - cute kids!! I think they will make friends and when they want their friends to come over most parents will be happy to send their kids - as most parents will see what great kids and parents your all are!!!

Take care and have a good evening - Kellan

[Sparx]

Hey, sod 'em if they judge you, sounds like your kids are getting the better experience out of their childhood. I'm all for letting the spud do what he likes so long as it's not dangerous or destructive, including going out in the garden wearing nothing but a nappy and crawling around eating leaves and dirt... far as I remember it didn't kill me or my parents to do the same and how else will they learn about their environment and develop strong immunities? Sounds like you're doing a great job to me - and remember, science is on our side!