Maybe I should have made more effort...

When I was home with Sydney on mat leave every Wednesday we went to Parent Link. Attending this gathering of parents was great for a few reasons:

1. met other parents (there were a couple of dads who came) with similar aged babies
2. Sydney got to interact with other babies
3. learned some valuable information from the presentations

Parent Link was from 1:30 to 3pm, with the first half hour being a social time. Getting there by 2pm at least was never a challenge with Sydney since she was never a napper & was usually awake by 1:30pm. When she got older & was getting closer to napping at the same time as Parent Link we would walk there & since it takes 45 minutes to get there she would sleep on the way & be raring to go when we arrived. I am so thankful for this group because I made some very amazing friends through this venue & a lot of us now have our second child.

With Jason, I have only been a couple of times. The main reasons I have not gone with him are:

1. he actually will nap at this time
2. the topics are the same as with Sydney
3. do not have the same motive to meet new moms

This week I got an idea of the disservice to Jason by not attending this group. On Monday, a friend of mine came over with her little guy who is 3 weeks younger than Jason. It was not a successful 'play' date. Both Graham & Jason are bum scooters, but Graham is more adept at getting around & was often taking toys out of Jason's hands, swatting at him, or just generally being in his space. Jason did not respond well to any of this & eventually he turned around to find me & scooted over crying. Graham wasn't doing anything that isn't "baby-like", but Jason just couldn't cope. I realized that he has always been around older babies & toddlers who to a certain degree give him space.

So now I sit here knowing it is Wednesday & realize that he is again going to miss the opportunity to be around some babies. When he wants to sleep, you want him to sleep because otherwise he can be a bear. Also when he wants to sleep, he wants his bed. He's not really a stroller or car sleeper. So, unless I can get him to maybe nap later in the morning that I could stretch him over this window for Parent Link- I don't think we will make it.

Thankfully Kelly & Graham have agreed to get together again next week. Hopefully if they spend more time together, Jason can toughen up & can co-exist with Graham. He better learn how because Graham will be at daycare with Jason a couple days a week.

Graham just took one of Jason's favourite toys. The little green spatula. He has started to use this as more than a chew toy too. He will whack balls with it & chase then around the floor. Maybe 'hockey mom' is in my future- but not at my encouragement!

See the tears???