Daddy Blogger Doodaddy has a thought-provoking post about the difficulties of creating a play group and community when one is a stay-at-home-dad. He sadly recounts a discussion with a woman at the park who chirpily announces her victoriously busy schedule full of dates and groups and outings. He admits to having only one park buddy, who met his wife previously and who was therefore grandfathered in. The problem here appears to be a perception on his part that if he weren't carrying around an extra piece of equipment, he'd be all in. I sympathize with his plight, but not because he's a dad. As a fellow playgroup reject (albeit by choice), I can understand his frustration.
Plenty of clear-thinking parents do not heart play groups or get togethers, or Gymboree, or nothin, which brings us back to the necessity of cocktail playdates. Otherwise, all that standing around jawing about little Billy's diapering is just dull dull dull. I didn't enjoy that talk before kids, and I sure don't like it now. I like what many Babble-readers like: political discussions, talk of books, philosophy, relationships, shoes, and sometimes sometimes my life as a parent, but as the exception rather than the rule, and not in the middle of a boring living room while munching cheese and crackers. Doodaddy may find that if he were invited to join the club, he wouldn't really enjoy it that much anyway. Friends are hard to find. Good friends even harder. If he's willing to follow some simple playdate rules, he can come over to my house any old time.
