If you are a parent and did NCT classes how did you find making friends with them all? Did it work out and did you all end up a big group of friends or did you divide into different groups?
I think I can be a stupidly anxious person and always overanalyse everything. I've had the same group of friends since secondary school that I see a lot (pre covid). I also have some university friends that I meet up with but see them more one on one as they are quite different. I say this as I wonder if I just struggle with new people maybe?
We moved to a new area when I was pregnant and so we are nowhere near my old friends.
We did NCT classes last year and everyone seemed really lovely. Despite this I found it hard to bond with anyone else straight away. It's a big group of 10! It's always very much small talk or about the babies. And then it goes into other work things and I just find it hard to compete for conversation sometimes. I'm an introvert generally. I feel like I'm always different, always a bit more shy, don't fit in somehow. But those anxieties tend to hold me back and I don't know if I'm being ridiculous and I'm not actually different, but feeling like I am which is making it hard to bond?
We did lots of whole group meet ups when the babies were first born. Always in cafes in our local area. It was lovely at first as everyone is so friendly in person and we were helping each other out with the newborn stage. Saying that, it was always a big group and I do find it hard to feel close to people unless it's 1:1.
Then we started doing a few baby groups together in smaller groups, but always different. No set smaller group, if you know what I mean. So it wasn't like it was always the same 4. But then covid happened! Groups dropped numbers, lots of us started distancing and then of course lockdown.
During lockdown we tried to organise group zoom calls but it just wasn't the same. And again it was all 10 of us but different people dropping in each time due to naps.
With restrictions easing we had a few distanced park meet ups. Always nice and chatty at the time, but I can't explain it - they always left me feeling a little cold. Like I still can't just relax. I don't know if they like me. They've tailed off again now with the poor weather and preparing returns to work (December babies!)
I was feeling a bit rubbish so bit the bullet and have seen 2 of them 1:1 for walks. I texted them and asked to meet. They are two that generally text back a bit more so that's why I asked them (a lot of the nct group I have never texted personally, which I regret now). On both occassions we went for a walk around a local park. It was nice, but you always need to get back for naps etc and I feel like you need to do it a few times to get to know each other well. I've just found out that those two actually go out for dinner lots. I'm starting to wonder if loads of them have made mini groups and I'm just not aware of it?
The stinker is the whole covid thing means I'm not comfortable going out to dinner or lunch (whatever!) anyway due to some family health conditions. So I don't even feel I can rectify it by organising anything really. :(
I'm basically kicking myself I didn't make more of an effort to do 1:1 catch ups pre covid.
I'm not returning to work before the new year, I don't really know the area and no groups seem to be opening up. I just feel a bit lost tbh and worried I've wasted my NCT experience!