I abandoned our homeschool playdate

Last year when I started homeschooling I joined a play group. Then grudgingly I dragged myself and my children to a park, in the middle of the day (hot) on Wednesday (our long day). I would try to squeeze school in before and after. I tried making friends but found myself leaving stressed and frustrated because I was not building any deep relationship. Actually It was good to make it through a day were the other moms didn’t stare at me mouths gapped for some comment I made or my kids made.

In my head this scheduled “recess” was necessary. Then something funny happened, I STOPPED going! I do not remember one mothers name, the girls never asked why we stopped.

What replaced that is truly one of the most beautiful things I have encountered.

I have two friends. One home schools , one is a teacher.

Our children get along. Our Husbands get along. We get along.

On random nights text messages start flying our phones start going crazy…

“tiger point park”

“when”

“We leave 20mns”

“K behind you”

“Wilsons coming?”

“yep”

Then with our husbands and children,  some or all of us show up at the park we sit on the bench and there is a comfort that comes from a special friendship as we take turns wrangling kids not just our own. We cheer for a baby walking and not just our own. We love on children and not just our own. There isn’t segregation between men and women the kids are not ignored but in some strange flow everyone becomes a family. 2.5 hours later someone realizes the sun is down and its past bed time.

Sometimes if we feel lucky we try to eat dinner together, sometimes we realize that the men had their own text messages flying and they want to catch a movie after (hum no wonder one husband just randomly drove separate! Sneaky guys).

I remember their names, I know their stories. My children love them.

So I abandoned our homeschool playdate!!!! for actual personal relationships!!! and realized once again that I don’t have to follow the crowd but do what is right for my family!