that the whole playground mums camp is getting me down?

[RedRedWine1980]

Because I dont take DD to school that often due to having to work it just makes me feel like a fish out of water when I do go, some are making trips to the shops in their little gangs after, some coffee morning, some going to each others houses and its all they talk about. Regardless of the children their kids like to play with, they must play with the kids of the mums they like and thats it.
Since DD started she has had one friend over and has been to her house in return however ive asked some of the mums of children my DD likes and plays with at school about them coming over after school one day but nobody takes us up.

Magaly - I remember saying that to you. Did you have a different name then? I can't remember why I said it now either.

I'm moving back to Ireland this summer, perhaps I'll remember what made me leave once I've moved back.

I don't go to DS school very often as he gets the school bus, but when I do I have a coterie of parents whose children I have lavishly complimented in the past and who are therefore willing to talk to me.

I did have a slightly different name, i was Maggie (something)!

You probably will remember what made you leave because it's the 80s all over again! without the optimism of youth....

Oh I jest. It's not that bad. I am back in my natural habitat.

LOL @ hully's cardinal rules list as that is almost exactly what is like at my dc's school
Magaly is spot on it is 80's here ,i can not believe those bright coloured pink/yellow/green shiny doc martin boots are back in the shops

That's excellent news, squiggle. I can go to live in the UK and give into my impulses to be mad as can be. People will look at me askance until some whispers, "Oh she's a Yank, poor dear."

have read first few posts but obviously not all lol, I too have this problem where as I may only get to collect my daughter once a week a lot of the time. I often find weekends tough going because my dd gets so fed up and is always asking for people to come and play or to go to someones house and although I have invited kids over they never really take up the offer. I have even considered trying to set up a group for lone child families because I am sick of being told 'well you shouldnt just have one child its not fair' or 'its so much easier if you have another one'
I see groups of parents together all the time at school then I will drive along and see them in a cafe or see photos of them at the park on facebook. I get annoyed at the things school write home about too'playtime for parents and children' -'parenting classes to help positive parenting etc', parents- school liason group-its all during the weekday when Im at work! and I find it hard not to feel excluded

Spacehopper5 you sound very bitter and judgemental. I often meet other mums for a cuppa after school dropoff . Trust me we aren't regurgitating anything. Personally i wouldn't judge you for not wanting to stop and chat so don't judge me for having a support network that has saved my sanity and allowed me to combine my work and caring for DC's. It took me a while to get to know people and I always try to invite others to join us so don't tar everyone with the same brush

I think it is very difficutl to have that balance and when you do work you are excluded alot form the social side of having children and being able to benfit from school activties, my dd often gets upset because I have not know about book fairs or cake sales because letters have got lost between school club and home and she often gets cross because I dont know anyones mum or phonenumber

Spacehopper it's great you're too busy to talk about bollocks with SAHMs, or indeed to talk about talking about bollocks with SAHMs. Your life sounds very fulfilling.

Twinkerbell - can you get school comms on email? and a class list from the class rep? it really helps hugely when you are a working parent. Might be worth asking?

yes we do get letters via email now but I am a nurse and don't get chance to log on everyday. I think as they start getting a little older they will get easier.
It was the same when she was a baby, the mother and babyt cooking classes, music classes etc all during the week, special offers for parents and toddlers at the cinema during the week.....if you work you miss out on alot, its about time things changed to support us who go to work as many of us do it out of necessity not by choice and we still want to be involved in the fun things of parenting

Could your school print out stickers with important messages on?
Ours does, kids come out of school and parents always see the messages.