Did nct before having DS a couple of years ago. Had some lovely meet ups on maternity leave and lots of support in our WhatsApp group. But as everyone went back to work, it went quiet and we've had one meet up since. I still get a few instant replies when I do post in the group (we all shared up to date photos recently), but I don't feel like there's any interest in chatting more regularly. Felt a bit sad because I still feel like it's a nice group, and it would have been good to have trips out with toddlers and chat about challenges/funny bits as they got older. But I thought this was normal, and mainly felt annoyed at myself for not making more friends on maternity leave. Then when I saw a couple of friends recently, both were still regularly seeing nct groups, including one with toddler a year older than DS.
Now I'm pregnant again I'd like to make more friends with similar age children. DH and I were looking at an nct refresher course. It would be useful to discuss some concerns with other parents (e.g. practicalities of managing baby and toddler) but it would be partly about trying to make friends in a similar position, and it obviously costs a bit. Do people tend to be looking for friends on a refresher course or are they just there for information?
Alternatively there are plenty of local groups during maternity leave, but I'd have DS too most of the time and he enjoys wandering around and climbing, so I doubt I'd be able to sit down with other mums for very long (although the plan is for him to carry on with some nursery days, so a couple of groups would be possible). It's not that I don't have friends, both with and without children, but lots aren't local and in an ideal world I'd be part of a group of parents where I live with similar age children who want to do park/soft play trips and chat, but also meet up without kids. I just don't know how to make it happen!
Sorry for the essay. Basic questions, if you felt like you didn't make many friends on your first maternity leave, any tips for your second? Is an nct refresher course a good idea?