I contacted a h.s. support group recently. They offer a month membership free, and during this time you can go to their activities and field trips. If you like the group you can join, if not you just walk away. I'm supposed to go to their new family night next month, but I'm uncomfortable about it. While I have been emailed pertinent info, I have nothing to take with me to the meeting. Nothing to identify myself and nothing to identify group members to me. The lady I talked to said most people are away, so it won't be a usual meeting but other new families might be there. Good, I'll hang out with anyone who looks as lost as I'll feel. I'm not sure what I expected here. More formality, I guess. Am I missing something here? Is this how most groups operate? The other issue is they don't offer child care for their meetings. Is thois the norm too? I'm not familiar with the area the meeting is in and I'd rather not go alone.
From my understanding, most support groups vary greatly from one to another. One might be very rigid and formal, the next super laid back. One might have no up-front dues or cost, and others will. Some meet very regularly, others only to get together and have fun. It all depends on what you want, and what meets the needs of that particular group. Some have rather strict (read "legalistic") rules, while others have no guidlines at all. And, of course, there's every thing in between!
This is awkward, though. I won't know anyone, they won't know me. I haven't even seen the contact person I've been talking to!
My daughter invited a friend to go with her to AWANAS. But this girl was a year younger, so we thought she would have to go into the younger class. Faythe asked the guy in charge about it (because the girl wouldn't want to come and be all alone without Faythe). He said that there was NO WAY he would make a child split up from the friend that brought her!!! So the girl came and had a wonderful time! We're still little kids at heart, aren't we? Some of us are more comfortable in a group of strangers than others, but when push comes to shove, we ALL would like to "know someone" when we go somewhere "new". Anything to give us some sense of familiarity or belonging!
Becky~ I'm like you......I wouldn't want to go into a situation like this, not knowing anyone. I'd probably drag Brian along, or ask a friend to come along with me. I just don't like "being alone in a crowd". If you decide to go, good luck!
Groups really vary. Be grateful that they didn't tell you, that you had to bring your husband along. I would tend to agree with the woman that the turn out is probably low. Even though we are homeschoolers....people tend to travel more heavily during the summer months. Our small activities group doesn't even really plan anything for summer because it just gets quiet. I'd either get a sitter and take dh or.....suck it up and GO. I know that's tough for you shy gals but....it's the only way to meet people and if the local support group is setup for nightly meetings then......go when it's quiet and then when it gets to rockin' in Sept. you will know a few more people. :lol: :lol: Please let us know what you decide and what you find out from going. :wink:
Becky, With my husband job we move around alot and I have been members of many different groups in a few different states and yes they all work about the same. It's hard going into the first few meetings not knowing what you are going too. But, I have to say most of the ladies have been wonderful and welcome you very nice. It's hard going to the first meeting and not knowing who to go too. But, you seem to find the way. Just give it a try. I am suppose to go to one tonight a little nervous about it. I just hope I can find the place, I think that is the hardest part for me is finding the places all the time. Good luck. :lol:
It's not that I'm scared, I feel unprepared, for lack of a better way to say it. I still don't know my behind from a hole in the ground, and now I have to go into this building full of strangers, not knowing proceedure or any of that. Today is just not a day to deal with new things.
Procedure???? Are you going there to perform surgery on someone? hummmmm 8) Just be friendly and ask questions. They are use to newbies!!! Go and have a good time meeting people - take yourself a small notepad & a pen so that you can write down any useful information that they might provide you with.
Yeah, I'm going to perform surgery there, and I'm taking along plenty of those reusable maxi pads for easy cleanup!! She, you are an old hand at this... do you even remember when you started h.s.ing??
An old pro. ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL :lol: :lol: Let's see....it's 2005 and we are finishing fiirst and starting second grade 2004 we started 1st grade in March because K was too easy. 2003 we started and *official* K program in August Once ya get going....it's easy sailing until the wind either dies down or...ya get a big gust. ROFL I'm just really active in the homeschooling community. :lol:
I've never heard of a HS group with chld care. Our evening ones the kids stay home and any others the kids go along and play together. Since the one you are going to is family night, it would be a good time to get to know the others as family groups and decide if they're people you want your daughter playing with. I've never been to a formal group, but I'd hate it if it was formal, so I wouldn't seek out that kind. I'm sure they're out there... but I really don't know! Glenda
One group I'm in is entirely informal with no actual "meetings". Just a big group of us making mutual plans each month. The other group had meetings and the teens took turns doing activities and games with the rest of the kids. And the only fee I have ever paid is for the newsletter--$3-5 depending on if you get a hard copy or not of the directory of people.
Really, I didn't know what to expect. I was surprised about the child care. To me, why WOULDN'T there be childcare?? Get one or two of the older, most responsible teens to watch the kids and collect an offering for them. When I was looking at schools I couldn't get over the differences there, either. I don't get out much......
There are some major legal issues with having childcare at the meeting. :lol: Yeah I know it shouldn't be a big deal but...in this day and age you can't trust people and you have those looking to earn an easy buck. Even churches have all these safe policy procedure classes that you have to do before you can help out with the kids. Most people don't want to meet at night because that is family time and most families don't want to spend it with other homeschoolers. At least that has been my experience. Most mom's want to get out of the house with no luggage. :lol: Becky, when is the meeting? I don't remember when you said.
I know my husband wouldn't want to attend a HS meeting on a regular basis. And to be quite honest, I wouldn't be open to attending one in the evenings. I WOULD be open to getting together once a month for socializing with other HS moms, but I'd leave the kids with their father.
The meeting is Monday the 11th at 6:30, which smells. Jeannie still naps from 4-6. Why do you ask, She? Gonna keep me accountable, huh? 8) I am still uncomfortable here. Maybe my idea of a support group is altogether wrong. I'm really only looking into this to get playmates for Jeanne and secondly to get some answers. I get the majority of what I need here, but that's not helping Jeannie.
Does the group put out a newsletter with their activity days in it? That might be a thought, if they "allow" you to play w/o going to the meetings that is.
Well, they will let you join for a month for free, but since it's summer I'm thinking this free month isn't going to do me much good.
