To think that working mums are lucky for dont have to arrange or go to playdates?

[Summernow]

My DD is 3 and is my only child and despite going to nursery every day I feel ver gilty for dont socialize more and provide more playdates for her...the point is... for me is very difficult to spend some hours with stranges trying to have a good time, its not natural, they are not my friends, Im there only for my child and I want to run away sometimes arghhh ... What else should I do socialize her that dont involve aranged playdates?

I find it really frustrating as a WOHM that I can't build the friendships etc with local parents that would make playdates possible. DS is at teh stage where we'd like to have other children around for playdates but we can't do it via nursery (not local) and i don't know any local children etc (DP who is a p/t SAHD finds it impossible to build tehse relationships- i think its part of his "job" to a degree and he isn't supposed to like it)

I also work and arrange play dates on my days off or holidays. Often don't feel like it but do it for dds.
Dd1 is 11 and I actually find it easier for her to have friends over.

Well they don't know you're there Dueling! You have to kind of look for stuff. For example, the thing I was doing came up out of a parent and tots group I used to go to in that organisation. We were always made aware there was an option to get further involved or help out in the bigger organisation if we wanted... most people usually say no to things like that by default but you won't know if you don't try!

What about the village fete? Helping at a family-oriented music festival? Has your area got a local rag that will tell you all the stuff that's on? Does your local library have a noticeboard that tells you of all the voluntary stuff, upcoming events that are suitable for kids and adults etc?

lol at village fete - I live off a main road in Cardiff but I do see your point. There is a community group nearby so I will look into that.

It is difficult being in full time work, but I do have some opportunity to mingle with other mums and children from the nursery :)

I have just checked and the community summer festival takes place this monday between 2 and 6. I will be in work :(

lol at village fete

I know I know, it's a bit cucumber sarnies and afternoon tea isn't it !!
But the reason I mentioned that is the kids begged me to bring them to one and not only was it super fun and far better than I expected, I actually ended up helping a bit at it and met lots of people... It wasn't horrible

Between 2 and 6 on a Monday!?!?!??? Well that's just pathetic and actually just all round unfair .. I've never seen one of those events to be on any time but the weekend, or evening...

I would love to have more time to do this kind of thing! Maybe your DD could have friends over to you without the mum being there if you don't feel very social. My DD is three and sometimes I'll do stuff with her friends and their mums and other time they'll just drop them off/I'll drop her off so we can have a break for a few hours.

I'm a working mum and I do play dates with my DS but they're more for me than him

I'm not what you would call a people person, I find it hard to chat to people and can struggle to make friends, so going on a play date with DS has been a good ice breaker and so far I've made a couple of really good friends out of it, not only that my DS has a couple of buddies out of it too.

sometimes need to step outside of comfort zone, I was extremely glad I stepped out of mine.

I'm a SAHM and I enjoy my daughter having friends over. However, this it at her instigation -she asks if so-and-so can come over and I arrange it with the parent, and then there's a return date.

I only have them over for dinner though, or lunch in the holidays. Tea is taken in the afternoon with scones

So what are the playdate rules then?

What neriberi said.

I have moved round the country a lot and sometimes the easiest way to make new friends is via the children. Casually chatting to a new contact while your children play is a great way of seeing if you click.