We have been going on play dates for quite some time now, usually once or twice a week. It's been so great to know so many moms here and connect via the Baby Toddler Play Group, part of the International Women's Club in Eindhoven (IWCE). There are several moms that live super close, but I haven't had to travel further than 30 minutes to go to a coffee morning or brunch or potluck lunch with moms!
One thing that I have learned about Liam is that he is slow to adjust to the play date chaos -- I'm sure it's a combination of waking up from his car-nap and walking into an unfamiliar place with LOTS of moms and kiddos. It just takes him a few minutes to get settled and see what's going on. And there's no way I can just set him down in a play room and walk away -- too overwhelming for my shy boy! BUT, if I sit at the table and talk for a few minutes, he will want to get down . . . he'll sit at my feet for a minute or two, then slowly crawl away, glancing back every little bit as if to say, "Ok, mom, you stay there and I'm going to go over here. But you stay there. I'm a big boy." He wants to play, but he needs to do it on his own time, in his own way. But once he's gone, he has a great time playing and won't even need or want me for a long time, which is a great opportunity for me to socialize and eat and enjoy some adult time. He loves to watch the big boys play, but that can be a bit chaotic sometimes, so he sticks to the younger girls (and who am I kidding, he LOVES the ladies).
He is loving his play dates more and more, and just needs to exercise his independence without me forcing it on him. He wants to do things on his terms, definitely giving me a peek into this little boy's growing personality . . .
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| I'm ready to go play now . . . see ya, Mom |
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| I wonder what Colette's doing? |
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| Playing on the chalkboard |
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| These girls aren't paying any attention to what I'm teaching them . . . |
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| Another play date -- he loves the bucket and blocks! |
~Jessi
