It’s never ceases to amaze me, the playground at the girls school. We are now in our second year of our twin girls school lives.
They have, I must say settled beautifully into school life and rarely give any sort of issue in going to school or whilst they are there.
In fact their enthusiasm for school is awesome to watch. Their thirst to learn is at times awe inspiring.
So my update is a follow on from my post of a while back called a lone dad on the mum playground.
I will say things have changed a little bit and nowadays I do have conservations with other parents and have got to know some quite well which is really nice, because although there were plenty of parents on the playground I always felt a bit alone.
I usually talk to the same people and they are generally mums and a few dads, but I also find that if the people for whatever reason are not on the playground I find myself alone again on the playground. This is, if I’m honest, is about a third of the time that I’m doing the school run.
The interesting part for me is my wife oftens asks when I’m doing the school run and she is in work, she asks me if there is any news from the other parents and I never have any because most of the other parents don’t talk to me, but when we go up together she appears to me to be talking to everybody.
The school playground is a mum dominated area and although there are more dads on the playground we always be in the minority.
I have come to the conclusion that nowadays I will talk to anybody that talks to me and will strike a conversation with mums and dads, and actually it’s working to make the playground politics a stress free zone.
I imagine that as my five year old twin girls go through their school lives I will talk to more and more people as we become more than just parents but also friends.
Would love to know your thoughts
2 Comments
Rebecca
September 30, 2017 at 8:27 am
It’s a difficult one I must admit. We don’t live in the village my girl goes to school so I’m sensing I’m an outsider. Having said that though, I don’t really feel like an outsider as I just say hi to everyone. Plus I do know a few people who live in the village – including a local celeb which is nice! Anyway I digress, what I was going to say is that it’s difficult to start talking to someone especially as you’ve mentioned before that you’re a bit shy. But I would imagine that the others that don’t talk to you, are probably feeling the same way… they’re just shy! So why not make the first move and say hello? You have nothing to lose!
David – Tales of Two Children
October 1, 2017 at 10:41 am
I find it difficult to just walk into the playground and just start chatting. Happy to say hello when making the contact, but don’t push conversation. Whereas mum is on what’s app groups and all sorts. It’s definitely a mum zone. As you said, it does get easier, but, as a guy, I feel out of place just joining in.