Can you help me to be diplomatic? Re M&B group

[anotheranon]

I've namechanged in case I am recognised as it's quite obvious who I am

Last week was the first meeting for a group of mum's with babies the same age as mine, and was set up by a local NCT contact. 11 people were invited, I think 6/7 turned up.

It was a nice afternoon and one of the girls offered to host this week, another said she might be able to manage next week, a few people were concerned about the size of their house for a large group, and so on.

I really wanted to go - but at the last minute I couldn't, and the host from this week has sent a group email saying that most people didn't attend, and could next weeks meeting be incorporated into a local bumps and babies group in town.

Not a huge deal but as I've only met these people once, I'd really rather keep it to someones house - I feel like what could have been a good group will just get absorbed into something bigger and we lose the one thing we have in common - which is babies of the same age. I don't have any friends with children so I really want to get to know these women.

Anyway, I'd like to offer my house, it would be a squeeze if everyone turned up but I doubt they would and I could probably manage - but I feel like if I emailed the group and said 'come to mine' it will look like I'm treading on her toes and she's technically made the arrangements for next week.

sorry this is long but with new people it can be so easy to put your foot in it... I don't want to go to the larger group while we are still strangers, IYSWIM... how do I invite them without shunning her idea?

why not do both - go to the larger group & hold a meet up at your place? See what every one wants to do.

why not send an email, saying you'll be a the bumps and babes and does everyone want to come to yours the following week, say great idea about using the larger group and maybe do week about every second week at someones house.

When I went to a regular M&B group with similar age babies the regulars all took turns hosting, and those who felt that they couldn't host (for whatever reason) would organise for us to meet at a venue on their week. We still kept to the same smallish group rather than be absorbed into a large and anonymous group. Summers we might meet at a park, otherwise it might be at a Starbucks-type place (ie with sofas) or a small soft-play or multi-snesory venue. But generally non-home meetups would be at a place where you didn't have to pay entry, unless most of the group agreed to go to a place which charged entry.

So I would suggest to go to the next meeting, wherevver it is, but to offer to hsot the next available slot at your home. When you're hosting you can suggest alternative arrangements for people who feel uncomforaable about hosting.