I'm so excited, I found a local group here that meets for play groups every Friday! They have a Yahoo email group and announce the events and stuff happeneing in my area. There is so much more going on around here than I was aware of! I'm a little nervous around people I don't know, but the kids need to get out more and interact with other children. And I need to interact more with other moms......LOL My car is on the fritz so I can't go this Friday, but I will definately be going next week. Wish us luck in making new friends and getting more great ideas
GOOD FOR YOU, HEATHER!!! Remind me where you are again. We have a great local group of about 13 members and we get really good turn out for our field trips. We do a park day as well, it's not as consistent but...the kids love to run and jump around like monkeys so.... For the summer we are planning to have get wet type days where we either meet at a public pool or run through the sprinklers at someones house. Gotta stay cool in TX! You won't know how the group is until you go. Sometimes you might need to go more than once to make sure it's a fit but...if you are turned off by the first time - run! LOL
LOL.....thanks Sheila I'll remember to bring my running shoes I know some groups are better than others from talking with my SIL, but hopefully this will be a good start! I'm in Charlotte, NC and from the newsletter I read this group does a lot of events and field trips. Some of the events seemed a little swanky (a note was written no jeans, etc.) but some of the field trips sound really cool. I plan to keep going until I meet someone who I can relate too. I'm really hoping to run into someone with twins We are joining the YMCA and they have an awesome pool with it's own little water park. We got a gateway membership b/c DH made next to nothing last year, so it's only like $30 a month for the family.
Hey Heather.... I agree with Sheila..Close here where I'm at, we have like 5 or so groups. Of the five, 2 are pretty great! The one close to my house is nice as far as scheduling field trips, but they want me to sign all kinds of documentation about my faith! Thats between me and God. Although I am Christian, I don't feel the need to let everyone else know the *depth and width* of my faith, unless they ask of course! hee hee. I guessed I felt some had a pious attitude and if it was DEEP enough, according to THEM, not God, then Well Your In! Perhaps if they just were wanting to know if you were christian or not, I have no problem. But they weren't! They had DETAILED rules that BOTH father and mother had to be involved in the meetings. Good idea in theory, but dh schedule is subject to *change without notice*. Also, single parents WERE NOT allowed! I guessed some of them figured that there is no such thing as an innocent spouse in a divorce. I have never been divorced, but I believe its incumbent on Christians to be just that *Christ like*. Christ never shunned such people as long as the heart condition was good. But that was THEIR group,so be it! So that group wasn't for me! Other groups have mixed faiths, but are all encompassing! So the two groups we have now, one headed by Sheila are great!!! Field trips and end of year parties are planned!We feel that we can be part of group, without having our *inner faith* judged by another human! So you will know right off if its a good fit! No such thing as perfect fit! Tina
No single parents!!! That's too bad. I wonder if my family would be allowed to join, since DH had been previously married.... And what if a person was a pretty scummy individual and a single parent, and then God got ahold of that person and really turned him (her) around...? (Or is they were a really scummy MARRIED person and God turned them around?) Do we still hold them guilty for past sins that God has forgiven them? And what about widows? Well, seems to me there needs to be a little bit of GRACE.....
Sadly, these are the big reasons we didn't join... a group this year. I looked into many. We have quite a few around here. Most are of some religious affliation and have certain rules as well. Others sounded mostly like a playgroup and field trips which I thought was good but were a little far to drive. So, I just didn't decide on any. We did do homeschool gymnastics where I met lots of moms that homeschool. That was nice to get to talk to them each week! Missy
Jackie..... I was really uncomfortable with the whole atmosphere! No single parents period, INCLUDING widows! I mean I understand where they are coming from. They only want examples around their children of persons who have the family unit established by God. I TOTALLY agree with the fact that dh is head of the household, and all should be in subjection. However widows and orphans were a very big part of Jesus ministry. He often used them as examples to show mercy! I just think maybe in their endeavor to provide the enviroment for their children that is contrary to this world at times, they have set up such strict and harsh guidelines they really have set themselves above. I even dislike using the word pharisees to apply to them, but it may be fitting here. They are so busy applying *the LETTER of the law*,they failed to see the *INTENT of the law*. As far as repentant wrongdoers, here again, that would be submitted to their panel of directors for consideration. Here again, big problem for me. If the elders or older men in the congregation and God has extended mercy to the individual and they cleansed their lives, who are they to put themselves above such an arrangement(one of forgiveness in a large way)? King David even committed murder, and he was forgiven and spoken of as one of the most loyal servants of God. Ok.....got way off subject here! Sorry ladies...
groups I had been searching for home school groups around my area also. I have only found two so far. I searched for more but that seems to be it. I will keep searching though. One of them meets every first Thursdays of the month, at 1pm at various parks and houses. They also do field trips and so forth. However that time of the day is not good for me since my 1yr old takes a nap in the afternoon. Now that I think about it maybe that one day a month missing the nap wouldn't be so bad? They also have a yahoo group. The other one I found wanted me to sign and believe in their statement of faith, there were a list of rules and another list on volunteering. There was a cost to join, five dollars I think. That is not what turned me off though. I met a lady that is in this group and she is very nice, I just don't think I want all that attatchment.
Well, Tina, all I can say is that it must be tough being perfect all the time. I sure wish *I* could be that perfect!
Oh my goodness, I'd run for the hills if someone wanted me to sign something stating my beliefs! I'm a grateful believer in the mercy of Christ and count myself a Christian, but I do not believe it's my job to tell other people how to live. There is only one Judge in this world....kwim? I heard back from a couple of moms who have preschoolers (via email) and we plan to get together in a couple of weeks after they get back from a conference in TX. They sound pretty nice, so we'll see
Heather, That's great I hope it works out. Here are some things that I have learned that I want or don't want in a group. People in the group HELP plan and coordinate. It's a team not ruled by one supreme person - ugh! Group does field trips and has participation by *members*. We have a list of potential field trips that we brainstormed. Now when someone wants to step up to the plate to plan an event they have lot's to choose from. We do 2 trips a month Aug - May so... no one person gets stuck planning everything. ) No cost. If we are doing a trip, like the pizza party, that cost money we try to get the word out as soon as possible so those that need to save can. Give positive credit to those that deserve it. Plan ahead. We try to have the next months calendar done by the middle of the previous month. That way people can put it on their calendar, save their pennies, etc... Nothing worse than saying oh next Thursday we are going to _____________ and it cost ____________ and you just spent your school budget on something silly you really didn't need anyway. HA! No matter what type of group you belong to, it's a team effort if it is going to work. Then of course you get into personalities. I don't remember if it was this thread or another one, TinaTX said it best about those that let the child run wild. Those that stand on the ground and yell up into the tree at their child "if you fall out of that tree I'm going to beat your butt" hummmm I never saw the gals that attended that day for the first time, again. BTW we aren't part of that group anymore. Oops I gotta run...I'm sure I had a few more things to add but....next time
Heather, I don't remember how you found your group? I am debating starting a playgroup in our town. I'd like to advertise on our town channnel, but I can't come up with a safe enough way to announce it. Maybe I could try something your way.
Hi Becky, I searched through Yahoo Groups and found one that was just for my city. I bet you could announce it in some of your local church bulletins or what about some fliers at your peds office?
