By Emily Haaima MacKechnie
Becoming a parent is one of the scariest things that can happen in our lifetime. Our whole lives we have been able to come and go as we pleased and now, all of a sudden, we have this tiny little precious human that we are completely responsible for.
Being a new parent can be very overwhelming and lonely if you don’t have mommy or daddy parents to relate to. Having friends navigating parenthood like you allows you to share stories, get advice and just vent to them. It also allows you to feel like you have someone else going through the same craziness you are.
I am not from here. I have lived here for a little over five years now and the first two and a half years I was here I hardly knew anyone. I would chat in line at the grocery store or post office, or meet people through my husband but I never really got to know anyone very well.
When I had our son two and a half years ago, I knew I would have to start taking him out in our town. I wanted him to meet little friends his age so that when school time came it would be easier as he’d already have met some friends.
I had mommy friends but they didn’t live close by so while it was nice having them for some aspects of parenthood, they weren’t much help with trying to meet other people here with young children. I was very fortunate that I have a sister-in-law who lives here. She introduced me to a lot of the programs offered in our area so I could get my son out of the house.
Not all new parents are that lucky though. Some may not have any idea where to go to meet anyone. I have thought of a few ways that moms and dads can slowly start to join in some activities in the area and thus meet others who are going through similar phases in their lives.
Shawville Shenanigans is a playgroup on Fridays during the school year where parents can chat with each other and play with their little ones.It may seem a little intimidating at first but it’s a great first step to meeting new parents. It’s wonderful because all aged children, even a newborn, can be included in this fun playgroup. You can just sit with your baby in the baby area and let them have tummy time and play with safe toys while you can talk with other parents or you can just play with your child until you feel more comfortable in striking up a conversation.
The best part is you can come and go as you please so you don’t have to feel obligated to stay for a certain amount of time if you are feeling overwhelmed. There are a lot of parents there as well who are very friendly who will gladly include you in their conversation, so it’s a very good place to start getting to know some other parents. Give it a try if you’re new to town or looking for something to do with your little one.
Going to the library in Shawville can also be a good way to meet other parents. There is a story time program on Saturdays that young families can attend to have their kids enjoy a story and craft. It can be an easy way to talk to other parents since there is an activity going on the entire time. You’re not expected to talk with everyone so you can just make small talk and slowly get to know the others better each week you attend.
Joining a club or group can be a great way to meet other parents as well. A group that organizes activities for children will most definitely have other parents in it making it easiest to meet other parents. In a committee type setting you can get to know other people’s personalities in a way that you may not see other places. This might help you initiate conversations and friendships with people you think you would like to become friends with.
I joined the Parent’s Voice for a few different reasons, but the main one for me was so I could meet other people that I wouldn’t normally get to know. It’s also a way to help the community be even better than it already is so you can feel great about yourself that you’re meeting new people and also doing something good for others.
In the spring and summer, the park in Shawville is actually one of the best places to go to meet new people. Our park here is pretty amazing, especially for a small town, I was very impressed the first time I brought my son to play there. There is something for every age group, no matter how old your child or children are they will have a great time and so will you. While your children are on the play structures or swings or at the splash pad it’s a great opportunity to mingle with the other parents around as well. There is usually a great group of parents on Wednesday mornings for Park Day, lots of children and parents alike to socialize with.
After going to different programs and activities and popular kid spots in our area you will get to know some other parents over time. At first, I was nervous about going to such things since I didn’t know anyone well, but now I look forward to playgroup and park days so I get to see my son’s friends and their parents.
This town has so much to offer. Friendly, welcoming people is just one of the many perks to living in a small town, so get out and make some new friends.
