I joined those groups, because I wanted to meet moms.  I was hoping to find a playmate for my kid and me.  I just wanted someone I  could talk to about the kid stuff and topics, like how Britney is a ho.  Well, I never found anyone like that.  All the moms compared notes and then discussed things I knew nothing about.  Most of the topics didnt even interest me.

I felt weird being there singing the songs and doing the goofy dances, but I thought I was the weird one. I knew something had to be wrong with me not to be enjoying this stuff.  I have since learned that kids like running and playing.  It doesnt have to be structured.  

The only baby group I liked was the one for newborns at the local Children's Hospital.  It is run by a nurse and basically you can go there and get your fears laid to rest without bugging the hell out of your ped.  There were no songs, dances or happiness required.    

At first, I registered the little guy for a Kindermusik class, which would have been nice, maybe, possibly, if it weren't for the fact that it occurred right smack in the middle of what was then his morning nap, which meant he was awake for maybe two of the classes.  I met way more moms in another playgroup at the local Y, and I even encountered a few that I liked, but I ended up really hitting the jackpot at a local park and at the little guy's preschool, when he first started.  I'm still great friends with one of the moms to this day, and she and I get together with our kids whenever I'm back in the NYC area.

Mom and kid happiness is NOT a guarantee at these things, however.  I'm still trying to find a good mom/kid combo and it's been nearly a year since I moved back down south.

If I could send you a "Don't Panic" button, I would.  The zoo and like venues are great alternatives - I certainly treat my zoo, aquarium, and Children's Museum memeberships like gold.

Oh, and Wendy?  Britney is a TOTAL ho!

i hear ya.  there is a lot of corny stuff out there.  but there is some good too.  we used to do music for aardvarks (do you have that in l.a.?).  it's less corny, but still corny.  but the thing is i met 2 really great women (and their kids) from it, which was sorta the reason.  also, when mamie was archer's age, there was no way/no how she was gonna sit in some circle and sing songs.  but i tell you, now that she is 2, she loves that shit.  and i just go along with it bec. there is something super cool about your kid, all of a sudden, belt out the words to Wheels on the Bus.  hang in, mama.

although i don't like phony playgroups where women dress in heels and put on makeup to sit indian style(how un-PC) and sing songs, i do have to say that i am a pre-school teacher and i sing the good ol' kid songs all the time. i even sing them at home with my own. some kids love those simple songs and hand motions. don't hate the game, hate the playas.

and... i have defended Britney all i can. i thought, man if someone had a camera on me when i was 20 i'd look retarded too. but her latest antics, i just can't defend. sorry Britt, you're on your own now. maybe if she had read the post about how fun quiet new years eves at home can be she wouldn't have passed out at the club. *sigh*

Try going to storytimes at the local library or park, if they have them.  Here in the LandofOZ, they have a broad range of readers/tellers who do a good job of presenting a tale or story or myth and engaging the kids without making the parents want to puke.  The mix of parent types is pretty broad and generally encourages more getting to know each other.

In our family moves and travels, we've encountered some places that are kind of a cross between a children's museum and a play area.  They usually have a bunch of cast-offs from businesses that the kids can play on.  Things like old supermarket checkout lanes, doctor/dentist office stuff, playhouses and the like.  Suitable for infants to elementary-school ages.  Since the focus is on the kids playing with each other, you get a chance to talk with other parents.  The people that attend cover a broad socio-economic spectrum, so the interactions are a lot more interesting.

Jah

I joined a play group with my Lads about a year ago, just by asking online.  My bestest parent friend ever who I met there said to me that becoming a parent is like the first week of college -- you meet lots of folks and instantly bond, and then after a few weeks, many fall away and you've realized who's actually cool for you.  I know a lot of parents I like, some I'm indifferent to, very few I dislike.

We find most of our activities online.  GoCityKids.com is a good bet.

You're definitely preaching to the choir. The problem  run into is that Im only 23, and every other mom I know is in their 30's, or at the least, their late 20's. It's like they're on a different planet atogether. Are there no cool moms out there that still like to go to punk shows and get tattoos? I somerimes think that I'm the only one. Hopefully Avery will enjoy being introverted, because there's no way in hell I can ever associate with <i>those</i> kinds of moms.

It got so bad for me that I had to pick up friends in stores I shopped in. It was good then, cause we signed up for those dorky classes together and gossiped during singing breaks.  But sometimes finding new mom friends feels like dating. Would anyone out there ever sign up for a mommy matchmaking service?

Today we took Archer to the Knitting Factory Hollywood to participate in the newest, coolest, latest

It takes a lot for women to make friends. It does for me, at least. Always has. In third grade, the girl I always thought was my best friend paid "the new girl" two whole dollars to play with me. Her name was Susan. I overheard the whole thing. The transaction

David

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