Play groups or baby sitting coop?

[pdonnadurk]

We are new to Broadlands and we were wondering if there are any playgroups established? Also is there a baysitting coop? Thanks!:)

[boomertsfx]

Back when I was growing up, there was no such thing as a "play group".... They were called friends.

No appointment necessary.

[:p]

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by boomertsfx

Back when I was growing up, there was no such thing as a "play group".... They were called friends.

No appointment necessary.


Same here. I think it's pretty ridiculous 'playing' is done by appointment and committee nowadays. Back when I (and I suspect everyone here) was growing up you made friends with other kids in your neighborhood by chance and choice...not forced playtime by your parents.

New age parenting stinks. :(

[OP_dude]

pdonnadurk
If you are looking for a baby sitter, the newsletter publishes names and numbers of local sitters. You can probably pick up a current newsletter at the nature center. They will most likely also have information about children's activities.

[pdonnadurk]

I am aghast! As a newcomer to both Broadlands and these forums I have often been chagrined to see the negative responses and personal attacks on every issue on these boards! I am now shocked to find that play groups and myself are now the focus. I will not justify your attacks with an explanation. Suffice to say again, we are “new” to the area. I will no longer be utilizing these boards for communication. Your rudeness and sarcasm have served to make me and my children feel quite unwelcome in a new neighborhood.

Ad item, I refer you to the forum rules:

“6. Be kind! As stated above, we do not allow personal attacks. If you want to take up a personal issue with someone please do it offline. We realize some issues can get hot, but before posting take a deep breath and step away for a few minutes before coming back and posting. The moderators do not want to edit posts or suspend users but we will if we have to.”

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by pdonnadurk

Ad item, I refer you to the forum rules:

“6. Be kind! As stated above, we do not allow personal attacks. If you want to take up a personal issue with someone please do it offline. We realize some issues can get hot, but before posting take a deep breath and step away for a few minutes before coming back and posting. The moderators do not want to edit posts or suspend users but we will if we have to.”


I'd like to know when you were attacked personally. BoomerTSFX and I were pointing out that the idea of a 'playdate' or 'play groups' as being BS...that is our opinion and we're entitled to it. At no point did anyone target you directly, only the ideas and trends of modern parenting.

Furthermore, you shouldn't feel unwelcome in a community just because someone doesn't share your same beliefs and ideas...that's a bit extreme as you'll find that is the case where ever you decide to live.

[boomertsfx]

Wow. You shouldn't be so easily offended. Of course you're welcomed into our neighborhood! Just relax and don't take these forums so seriously :D Anyways, the idea of "play groups" is, IMO, stupid. I mean, really. When I have kids, I'll take them to play with friends... not some structured and forced environment.

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by boomertsfx

Wow. You shouldn't be so easily offended. Of course you're welcomed into our neighborhood! Just relax and don't take these forums so seriously :D Anyways, the idea of "play groups" is, IMO, stupid. I mean, really. When I have kids, I'll take them to play with friends... not some structured and forced environment.


It's easy to say you'll take your kids to play with friends when you are obviously already settled in the area. I think the point of pdonnadurk's e-mail is that she is new to the area and doesn't have any friends yet. And in case you haven't noticed, it's winter outside and kids aren't exactly out at the pool.

And how about some CONSTRUCTIVE comments on the babysitting coop? Or is that a stupid idea, too?

And I'm sure pdonnadurk wanted to receive catty remarks from someone who ISN'T EVEN A PARENT! Get off the thread, your input serves no purpose here.

[jaeris]

I agree with pdonnadurk's comments on the sarcasm and rudeness. She/he was just trying to reach out and make friends as a newcomer to the neighborhood and was shot down with negative comments. Even though you didn't attack "personally" you did respond to the post with less than welcoming comments. How about starting off with "Welcome to the neighborhood".

jaeris

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by Pats_fan

It's easy to say you'll take your kids to play with friends when you are obviously already settled in the area. I think the point of pdonnadurk's e-mail is that she is new to the area and doesn't have any friends yet. And in case you haven't noticed, it's winter outside and kids aren't exactly out at the pool.


Thats no excuse for constructed and formal 'play dates'. I realize she may not know many people in the area, but if thats the case would you let your children play with someone you didn't know? Plus, it's winter and kids have all sorts of germs/colds/virii to spread...not a good time to be getting the little ones in a group anyhow.

quote:
And how about some CONSTRUCTIVE comments on the babysitting coop? Or is that a stupid idea, too?


OK, how about calling it a 'list of approved babysitters' rather than a 'coop' for starters. No need to make things sound more official and important than they really are. Thats like calling a garbage man a 'sanitation engineer'. Theres nothing wrong with compiling a list of babysitters that people in the area have had a good experience with, in fact it's a good idea if it doesn't already exist.

And it's co-op, a 'babysitter coop' is a cage or pen you keep babysitters in. :)

quote:
And I'm sure pdonnadurk wanted to receive catty remarks from someone who ISN'T EVEN A PARENT! Get off the thread, your input serves no purpose here.


Our input serves the same purpose as anyone elses on here, expressing an opinion on a subject. Last time I checked that was still legal.

With that being said, does anyone have a list of babysitters they've used? :)

[OP_dude]

I thought I was being helpful. If my post was in any way construed as being rude or sarcastic I apologize. I was just pointing out that the nature center is a good source for community info. When we moved here last summer we stopped in there just out of curiosity and came out with loads of info (along with a few warm cookies)
:)

[jaeris]

I believe a babysitting co-op is where parents get together and share babysitting hours. Say I babysit for your child for 4 hours, I'm 4 hours in credit and you're 4 hours in debit. Then you babysit for my child for 4 hours and we're even. This is a true co-op where everyone benefits from the services.

jaeris

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by jaeris

I believe a babysitting co-op is where parents get together and share babysitting hours. Say I babysit for your child for 4 hours, I'm 4 hours in credit and you're 4 hours in debit. Then you babysit for my child for 4 hours and we're even. This is a true co-op where everyone benefits from the services.


Interesting. I've never heard of that before. But it raises an interesting point that I previously touched on...If you're new to the area would you feel comfortable leaving your child for four hours with someone you just met? I sure wouldn't.

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by jaeris

I believe a babysitting co-op is where parents get together and share babysitting hours. Say I babysit for your child for 4 hours, I'm 4 hours in credit and you're 4 hours in debit. Then you babysit for my child for 4 hours and we're even. This is a true co-op where everyone benefits from the services.

jaeris


Exactly. It's much different from a babysitting list. You illustrate my point beautifully. Unfortunately, people without knowledge who have nothing better to do than roam these boards for entertainment value stifle those persons who legitimately want to use these boards to improve themselves and their community.

pdonnadurk's request was obviously directed to parents, and snide comments by non-parents who don't even know what they are talking about serve no purpose on this board.

I think a babysitting "CO-OP" (!) is a good idea. As jaeris correctly notes, members of the co-op all have children themselves. The co-op members all come from the same community and therefore are more likely to share common values, and, to make an unsupportable generalization, are probably more trustworthy than children on a babysitter list. I for one, AS A PARENT, would feel more comfortable having my children cared for by another fellow parent in my community, as opposed to a teenager down the street. Not that child babysitters are untrustworthy, it's just that I would prefer an adult parent babysitter.

OP_Dude, I wasn't talking about your post. Thank you for your constructive reply.

[pdonnadurk]

O.K., I said I was not going to get sucked back in here but here goes. Op dude, you were very helpful but I have explored the babysitting list and was really more interested in what jaeris was talking about. A co-op is parents babysitting so other parents can get an outing. It is done for credit which parents in turn can use towards babysitting time them. Of course I am aware of the myriad a complications this involves but babysitting sitting co-ops have been very successful in other planned communities and I was just wondering if one existed here?

As far as the play group let me set the record straight, we are new to the area and although we have met many of our neighbors their children are all school age. I have two children under two and was looking for a “mothers group”. So to the parents who have access to these forums, are there any existing “mothers groups” I will not explain my parenting philosophy to folks who do not have children but suffice “two under two”!!!

I am really disappointed that such a simple question would evoke such a debate. I was only trying to obtain information not editorializing on parenting styles.

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by Pats_fan

pdonnadurk's request was obviously directed to parents, and snide comments by non-parents who don't even know what they are talking about serve no purpose on this board.


My original 'snide comment' wasn't about the co-op (which I admitted I'd never heard of before), it was about the play group idea and you don't have to be a parent to have an opinion on that. I know full well what they are and in my opinion, they're ridiculous new-age BS parenting tactics. If you'll notice, I didn't comment on the co-op originally since I didn't know what the deal was with it, only after it was requested by you did I make a comment and I was corrected in my definition.

BTW, good luck to your team against the Titans on Saturday. Go Colts!

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by brim

quote:Originally posted by Pats_fan

pdonnadurk's request was obviously directed to parents, and snide comments by non-parents who don't even know what they are talking about serve no purpose on this board.


My original 'snide comment' wasn't about the co-op (which I admitted I'd never heard of before), it was about the play group idea and you don't have to be a parent to have an opinion on that. I know full well what they are and in my opinion, they're ridiculous new-age BS parenting tactics. If you'll notice, I didn't comment on the co-op originally since I didn't know what the deal was with it, only after it was requested by you did I make a comment and I was corrected in my definition.

BTW, good luck to your team against the Titans on Saturday. Go Colts!


I don't think play groups are a bad idea for parents with non school-age children at home. And like any other social interaction, if you don't like the people in the group, you don't have to participate (obviously). An established group would certainly be a good way to find this out though, wouldn't it? Especially, as I mentioned before, in the winter when parents with young children don't get out much and get a chance to meet. And I think that saying it is the cold and flu season and stay at home parents shouldn't ever interact with other parents and children is ridiculous. Again, only a parent would understand the need for interaction with other adults and not just the children in your home.

Thanks for the Pats plug, Brim. I think they have a good chance of beating the Titans. Personally, I think the Colts are going to smoke the Chiefs, setting up a Colts-Pats rematch. We'll see, though.

[jaeris]

Toddlers groups have been around for decades - nothing new age about it. I used to take my son to one and he's 33 now. Who would let their 2 year olds walk down the street and make their own friends?

jaeris

[brim]

Speaking of two year olds in the street and bad parenting, I'll throw this out. Last Friday at the intersection of Vestal's Gap and Demott, I came across a kid in the MIDDLE OF THE STREET on a big wheel, no parents to be found. He couldn't have been more than two. I stopped and he slowly pedaled off down Vestals Gap. I looked everywhere for an adult in the area and there simply wasn't one anywhere. That's unspeakable, I wish I had my camera and I would have taken a picture.

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by brim

Speaking of two year olds in the street and bad parenting, I'll throw this out. Last Friday at the intersection of Vestal's Gap and Demott, I came across a kid in the MIDDLE OF THE STREET on a big wheel, no parents to be found. He couldn't have been more than two. I stopped and he slowly pedaled off down Vestals Gap. I looked everywhere for an adult in the area and there simply wasn't one anywhere. That's unspeakable, I wish I had my camera and I would have taken a picture.


That is terrible. Kids need to play, though. It would have been a lot safer if that child had been at the home of a neighbor playing with other kids, and his/her parents were interacting with other adults.

Hmmm. What would you call a gathering such as that? OH - I know! How about a play group? Sounds like fun to me!

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by Pats_fan

That is terrible. Kids need to play, though. It would have been a lot safer if that child had been at the home of a neighbor playing with other kids, and his/her parents were interacting with other adults.

Hmmm. What would you call a gathering such as that? OH - I know! How about a play group? Sounds like fun to me!


That kid needed to be playing with some adult supervision, that's the issue here...not the social environment in which he should have been playing, and he definetly should not have been that far away from the front of his house. If you know that intersection, you know there are no houses facing it, only a couple that back up to it on the southwest corner.

Don't use play groups as an excuse for bad parenting...thats just as bad as the people that want the stoplight because they're concerned that a kid is gonna get ran over at the Claiborne/Broadlands intersection. That won't happen if you teach your kids to stay out of the street in the first place, then constantly monitor them after the fact

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by brim

quote:Originally posted by Pats_fan

That is terrible. Kids need to play, though. It would have been a lot safer if that child had been at the home of a neighbor playing with other kids, and his/her parents were interacting with other adults.

Hmmm. What would you call a gathering such as that? OH - I know! How about a play group? Sounds like fun to me!


That kid needed to be playing with some adult supervision, that's the issue here...not the social environment in which he should have been playing, and he definetly should not have been that far away from the front of his house. If you know that intersection, you know there are no houses facing it, only a couple that back up to it on the southwest corner.

Don't use play groups as an excuse for bad parenting...thats just as bad as the people that want the stoplight because they're concerned that a kid is gonna get ran over at the Claiborne/Broadlands intersection. That won't happen if you teach your kids to stay out of the street in the first place, then constantly monitor them after the fact


It wasn't an "excuse." Of course that child's parents should have been monitoring his/her activities. I just used it to provide an illustrative example of how kids can get the exercise they need and parents can get adult interaction in a safe environment. I will say again, for a stay-at-home parent in a new community, in the wintertime, a play group is a good way to meet people in your community and possibly forge some new friendships.

If you are not in this situation, you are in no position to judge those that are. I am sure, however, that we all appreciate the "valuable" insight of a non-parent who has no concept of the realities of parenting. We parents will take it for what it's worth - nada.

[msflynn]

pdonnadurk
to give you some actual information. there was a tuesdays tales that went on at the community center for the younger kids. Since out nature director left at the end of last year I am not sure that these are continuing, but I can find out and let you know. All of the coops that I have heard of ae neighbors getting together with neighbors not anything that is community wide. i can tell you that our Recreation committee is trying to work on a "play group" of sorts that would meet a different playgrounds but that will not start until the spring when it starts to warm up. the next newsletter comes out Feb 1st and will have a page that lists all the activities that are occuring in the community there are normally at least a few for the little kids.
Staci

[veronicasmommi]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by brim

Speaking of two year olds in the street and bad parenting, I'll throw this out. Last Friday at the intersection of Vestal's Gap and Demott, I came across a kid in the MIDDLE OF THE STREET on a big wheel, no parents to be found. He couldn't have been more than two. I stopped and he slowly pedaled off down Vestals Gap. I looked everywhere for an adult in the area and there simply wasn't one anywhere. That's unspeakable, I wish I had my camera and I would have taken a picture.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

May I suggest that next time anyone sees something like this, you pull over, make sure child is out of the street and then call the police. Something needs to be done about irresponsible parents, otherwise there will just be another fatality.

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by veronicasmommi

May I suggest that next time anyone sees something like this, you pull over, make sure child is out of the street and then call the police. Something needs to be done about irresponsible parents, otherwise there will just be another fatality.


Good idea, but I'd suggest just calling the police. The last thing I need is some parent accusing me of trying to kidnap their kid or some other litigous action. I guess you could coax the child out of harms way, but I wouldn't physically interact with him. This is a horrible society we live in when you can't even pull over and help someone thats been in an accident for fear of them suing you. However, I think there are some first responder laws on the books that require you to stop if you're the first one there and you can't leave until help shows up. Go figure.

[pdonnadurk]

msflynn- thanks for your reply. As it turns out there is a rich network of mothers and programs out there :)! The Ashburn Public Library offers many programs for kids including a Toddler program on Tuesday and Thursday. They do a nice job gearing it towards the little ones. Additionally I just found the MOMS club. They seem very active in our area. They offer play groups, a baby sitting co-op, mothers programs, kids programs and they do regular service projects for kids in the community. I have not been so that’s all I know but they do have a web site, http://www.momsclub.org/index.html. You can contact them there.

[SarasMom]

pdonna -
The storytimes at the library are great. We frequent those occasionally. You said you have 2 under 2 - the storytimes for the 18-24mo crowd is Tues & Thur @10am. They also have a Pajama Storytime on Wednesday evenings at 7pm - this is for all ages.

[momof3]

quote:Originally posted by brim

quote:Originally posted by veronicasmommi

May I suggest that next time anyone sees something like this, you pull over, make sure child is out of the street and then call the police. Something needs to be done about irresponsible parents, otherwise there will just be another fatality.


Good idea, but I'd suggest just calling the police. The last thing I need is some parent accusing me of trying to kidnap their kid or some other litigous action. I guess you could coax the child out of harms way, but I wouldn't physically interact with him. This is a horrible society we live in when you can't even pull over and help someone thats been in an accident for fear of them suing you. However, I think there are some first responder laws on the books that require you to stop if you're the first one there and you can't leave until help shows up. Go figure.