So my son (18 months) has been going to a daycare a couple days a week for the past few months, but I am taking him out soon since I am going to be staying at home. One of the teachers there is really sweet and seems to genuinely like him. She keeps saying how much she is going to miss him when he leaves. Also, her own daughter is the same age and in the same room at the daycare. They often play together and dance together, from what the teachers tell me. Anyway, I would love to keep in touch and have the kids play together once in awhile after we leave the school. But I hardly know this woman, just typical chat about my son's day at drop-off and pickup. Would it seem weird if I suggested a playdate? I don't want to make her uncomfortable. Just wondering - if you were her do you think I'd be crossing the line? I'm not talking like a weekly playdate or anything - just every once in awhile. thanks for your opinions!
thanks everyone for giving me the confidence to make the invite! I did it! Today was my son's last day and she was walking us out, I mentioned it. She seemed happy and gave me her email address. Who knows if she'll reply when I email her but if not I won't take it personally! thanks all!
I'd just start by asking if she'd like to meet you at a park for a playdate. That's a bit less awkward for a new acquaintence.
i guess she'd probably be fine with it - i'm sure i'm the wierd one that wonders how 18 month olds are "playing" together...lol. kids don't really play "together" until 3-4 years. but i do know people do this all the time so she probably wouldn't bat an eye.
I would ABSOLUTELY suggest a playdate. The worst that can happen is she can say no. But how wonderful for both you and your son if she says yes: a new friend for you AND for your little guy! I've turned quite a few acquaintances into friends by taking the plunge and suggesting coffee or lunch (or a playdate when the kids were young). If you don't take a chance, you'll never know what could happen. I say go for it!
Go for it! How else do you get to know someone or become friends? Invite them over or to the park and have fun!
I suggest that you do know her well enough to ask about a play date. You know that she's a teacher and therefore has passed a background check. You know she likes your son. Your son knows her and her daughter.
Asking would not make her uncomfortable. She will just tell you no if she doesn't want to do it. Be assertive and expect the same from her.
Absolutely fine! That's how to make new friends or weed someone out if they're creepy LOL!
I have typically done first playdates at a playground or Mcdonalds or some type of neutral kids type thing.
Go ahead and suggest it - and don't be vauge - oh we'd love to have a playdate sometime - just get her number and say my son loves to play with your daughter - I'd like to get together sometime for a playdate at the park. Do you mind if I call you to set something up.
Then give a call in a few days or a week or whatever. If you leave a message and don't hear back, take the hint!
I have always been happy when others suggest playdates and try to make it happen if it is someone my kids like playing with and I can do it. And I've successfully set up playdates with people we didn't know at first as well.
I've never had it turn out terribly! LOL!
Sure I'd ask! I'd wait until a few days after your son's last day at school to contact her, but just tell her what you told us. They seem to have so much fun together and you'd love to have them over to play sometime. If she does not reply or declines - you have your answer. But she may accept and it could be a good friendship for all of you :)
As far as how well you need to know someone, I don't think you have to know them at all. I've called mom's I've never met because my daughter mentioned she wanted to get to know someone at school better.
Go for it. Keep it casual, like meeting at a park to play, and see where it goes from there. I've just done this with a little boy from my son's Kindergarten class. We have already scheduled another playdate at the park, and one at his house. Worst case? You smile and wave and say good-bye as you leave the park and never call each other.
Invite her to your home. I am still trying to figure the "meet at park" mentality. Just invite her. If she says no, move on. So much thought goes into kids playing with each other these days. Long ago, if my kids wanted to play with someone, I called and asked if they could come over. Mom would drop off unless it is a good friend and I needed company, then she stayed.
If not, kid got picked up later. Many many times I picked everyone up from nursery school or when entered school they went home on bus with friend (with a note of course.)
A lot of time I only knew Mom from dropping off at school. People have not changed that much so why the paranoia about it all. Someone enlighten me!!!
It probably would seem weird BUT remember she is working so she will not have the same availability as you and may not want to spend her weekend on a playdate so don't get your feelings hurt or take it personally if it doesn't work out.
When my daughter was 6 months and my son was 4 yrs old, I met another mom with children the exact same age. We hit it off. The little girls (babies) began to hang out because we started to hang with each other. The older ones (my boy, her girl) became close too. (The older children had a falling out around age 10.5, but I made sure to maintain the friendship of the younger ones, because it wouldn't be fair to them to lose what they had.)
So yes, you can have baby playdates. It's great. It helps bond a friendship, and learn how to be a friend.
I recommend you hang with this lady at the playground to get to know her better. Keep inviting her every couple of weeks. I don't think this will be weird to her as she has said she will miss your son. Eventually, hopefully, perhaps, there can be drop off playdates.
My daughter and my friends daughter are both 8 now and best friends. I really wish I had done the same (stayed in touch with certain friends and their kids who we both liked) when my son was little.
This friend knows she can count on me for driving her daughter, picking her up, drop offs and now sleepovers. Both girls have their own set of friends, but this friendship is important to them too. And having drop off playdates in the last 4 years has been a lifesaver. Mom can have a break while the child has a good friend to play with. Just the other day I took her 8 yr old and 12 yr old daughter to the local skate rink because my daughter is loving it. We all had a blast.
So my advice to all young moms (whether you are in your 20s or 40s, you are a young mom) of young children is to make and maintain the friendships in toddlerhood. Look for parents you can hang with and get to know.
And a playdate on a weekend can be 1-1.5 hours at the park at this age. I think people can handle that. If she says no the first time, give it a couple of tries. If you try a bunch and it's never a yes, oh well.
Invite her to come to McDonald's for a play date before you take your little one out of classes. That way she can decide how she wants this to go.
If she's interested then a friendship will grow from it.
Yeah, I like to start at public places such as the park or a family friendly eatery for the first few. Once things are "gelling" we then suggest a home date.
