The Only Child Club -- Oct Playdate!

[Saffron]

Recent threads on having siblings, or how many children to have, prompted me to wonder if there is 'Only Child' playgroup out there? There are special groups for multiples, so why not singleton children?

How do you think being an only child affects your child, good or bad?

Personally I love being the mother of an only child. I feel like adding another child, at least at this age, would change my relationship with my toddler. I'm happy that we can just about give one child the standard of living that my husband and I had. Research does suggest that only children are not the stereotyped 'lonely onlies', but rather are well-adjusted and happy. I had an unhappy time with two abusive siblings, so I'm keen to avoid that in my own little family. Obviously my experience colours my choices. I'm just wondering what anyone else's experience/choices have been?

Are there any other parents of only children of any age who want to meet up?

xx

[helena handbasket]

What a great idea!

I wish I was there to join, but as someone pointed out, am now back in Canada. I would love to meet some mothers of older only children so I could understand the next few years a bit better.

That said, I will be following this thread with interest and hope to read about others' experiences with this. I am really amazed at how few people I know, children or adults, who are only children. It's lonely being an only parent some times too!

Best of luck with finding a nice group Saffron, hope it works out.

[mima08]

HIya - I am the mum to an only child and given my age & personal circumstances mean it is quite likely to stay this way. I often worry about it as I come from a large family and love it, but, due to unusual circumstances I am by far the youngest. This means when growing up, I often felt a bit alone, especially on holidays etc as my sisters & brother are so much older. They love me very much but I was often jealous of the "group effect" they seem to have with each other (and our cousins - we are a large, close family). Because of the age difference, even their kids are a lot older than my LO (adults in fact) . DH is also from a large family, and has children from a previous marriage. His kids adore our LO but the age gap is even bigger than with me and my siblings. So even though he has siblings & cousins etc, I am worried history will repeat itself.

So I guess it is up to me to enable as much friendship and social companionship as possible - hence, if there is an Only Child club, I'm in!

[Smiler]

There's an interesting section on only children in Po Bronson's "Nurtureshock"

[pripolla]

Please count me in, would like to meet other parents. I have one 4 year old daughter and will not have more children.

[Bonfire2010]

Hi - I'm an only child with an only child! I'd be interested in something like this - hope to meet up soon xx

[Saffron]

Hi all- Glad to see there's so much interest already!

Somewhat surprisingly, I haven't found any playgroups for 'onlies' yet, so I was thinking to host at mine if numbers aren't too big. I'm in Brockley (se4), so not strictly East Dulwich, though I've noticed that forumites tend to be scattered over Dulwich, Nunhead, Sydenham, Peckham etc. Of course if anyone else wants to host, that would be lovely too. Maybe we can rotate?

Depending on the children's ages, perhaps we could meet once or twice a month for tea and biscuits, then maybe get a little more organised for a dayout sometime?

xx

[standswithfist]

Hi Saffron, would love to be included am mother of one and likely to stay that way. Great idea. Am based in East Dulwich but could travel...

[MJmoo]

Hi there, I'd be really interested in this too. Living in East Dulwich but happy to meet anywhere.

[Bonfire2010]

I'm in Camberwell (but can travel on foot/bus). My flat is a bit small to host, but am happy to meet anywhere else and provide cake & biscuits!

[mima08]

Hiya, I am on the edge between ED & Peckham, happy to travel. I'm also happy to host sometimes - currently house is not yet toddler proofed (although will have to be soon), but have a small garden which might work (if the weather ever allows...)

[Bumpkin]

Hello, also only have the one and plan to stay that way and always happy to meet up with new mums. I'm only around Fridays currently, but please include me on any distribution list.

[Saffron]

Any/all of these dates good for a get together at mine in se4?

Friday 9th September, morning

Thursday 15th September, afternoon

Saturday 24th September, morning or afternoon

Let me know what works, everyone. Looking forward to a meet up!

:)

[MJmoo]

Hi, I can't do week days sadly but Sat 24th would be good for me!

[Bonfire2010]

Hi all,

I can't do weekends or Fridays so the 15th is the best for me. Please go ahead if it doesn't suit everyone else though, if I can stay on the 'mailing list' for dates I'll attend when I can.

xx

[Saffron]

Let's tentatively plan both dates then. :) You can't make too many new friends or have too much tea and cake*!!

Thursday 15th September, afternoon... from 2:30pm ish?

Saturday 24th September, also afternoon?

If the weather is nice, we can meet at mine, then take our LOs up to the park. If it's rainy, we can stay indoors and do painting or baking, or watch videos, or have dolly buggy races up and down the hall.

If that sounds good, I can PM everyone with more info.

Cheers all!

*(Ok, you technically CAN have too much tea and cake, but my cake threshold is very high.)

[MJmoo]

sounds good to me! we would love to come on the Saturday :-)

[MichelleT]

Hi Saffron,

Another mum of one here! I'm back at work full time so a Saturday is perfect, would be great to meet up with other only children (my bub is 14 months).

Michelle

[Saffron]

Great! So we're on for both dates (Thursday 15, and Saturday 24 September, from 2:30ish to 4:30ish at mine (se4). I'll send a round of PMs with address etc next week -- or sooner if Little Saff will get off the iPlayer and let me use the computer. Cheers, all! :)

[MJmoo]

Thank you! :-)

[mima08]

Hiya - I would love to make it on the 15th... just wanted to check age ranges? Does it matter? Mine is only 7 months and not crawling yet....

[Saffron]

Any ages welcome! xx

[Tamla]

Hi, would love to come along to the 15th... My boy is almost 12 months.

Please let me know address via PM.

Thank you

[Susan]

Would love to come. Can you just confirm if its Fri 16th or Thurs 15th?

Thanks

[Saffron]

Oops, earlier typo corrected. It is Thursday the 15th. xx