My story (Mother Toddler Groups in general)

Member Name: Vicki H

Product:	Mother Toddler Groups in general
Date:	18/08/01 (254 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Meet other mothers, Get you out and about

Disadvantages: No good for the workers, Often full of obsessive women.

When I had my son I felt very lonely once my husband returned to work. The health visitor invited me down the baby club which is held at the local clinic. Now this sort of thing is not usually my cup of tea but somehow I found the groups very reassurring (I blame the hormones!).

The group was quite small and therefore although I felt a little out of place at first I was soon accepted into it. There was tea and coffee available which was made for you (what a luxury!). In the middle of the room were mats to put baby on while the mothers had a nice chat about piles, child birth and stitches!

There were toys for my son to play with which were always very clean and well maintained. The health visitor was on hand for the full hour to offer any advice needed. At the end of each session there was also the opportunity to have baby weighed and measured. This was the bit I used to love. I saw it as a personal victory when the greedy little monkey put on several pounds more than babies older than him - this was until the health visitor decided we better watch his weight as he may became obese! I'm glad to say he has now stopped his bottle addiction and looks much less porky. I also stopped feeling pride at his weight gain and dreaded putting him on the scales in the end.

The clinic was a source of great reassurance as you met mothers with babies around the same age as your own. You could therefore compare notes and know that you were not on your own. It was a great way of making friends for me.

You may have noticed that this op is written in the past tense. This is due to the fact that when Joe was 12 weeks old I returned to work. Suddenly I have lost all contact with new mothers. I no longer get the advice that I so badly need from the health service and I once again feel that I am parenting in isolation. What I would love is for there to be a mother and toddler club for working mums. We have issues that we need to dis
cuss too. I have looked at taking him swimming in the evenings but all the classes are available during the daytime only. If anybody knows a solution to all of this I would love to hear it because at the moment I feel like I am the only working Mum in the land.

If you are lucky enough to be availabe in the day time visit a group. They are usually very cheap, this one was free! It allows you opportunities to meet all sorts of people, most are very baby obsessed though - you have been warned! Baby will enjoy getting out and they are very useful places to shelter in winter. Above all have fun.

Thanks for reading.

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