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(@) How To Make Friends as a Repat
Hello ladies,
I was on this board awhile ago, an American living in Dublin with my Irish DH. We've since moved back to the USA, first to Massachusetts (where I'm from) and now to South Florida (my husband got a job here.)
I'm curious - how easy was it to make friends once you were back in the US, if you moved to a different place/after a life change? I'm having a hard time finding groups to join - I've tried meetup.com, I've looked into the local library (for kids aged 3 and up, mostly) and short of knocking on doors in this apartment complex, I'm not sure how to meet people. We did join a Mommy and Me swim class which started yesterday - maybe that will pan out?
Any tips? Advice? Am I missing something blindingly obvious? Anyone feel like moving to Ft Lauderdale to be my buddy? I like wine and pizza. And my kid is pretty great, too.
Re: (@) How To Make Friends as a Repat
I would like to be your friend because I like wine and pizza too (only red wine though if you like white, it's over). I live in VA. Is that close to Florida?
The way I made friends was through facebook but not in a creepy way. I "reconnected" with a bunch of people that I didn't realize lived here until I saw it on facebook. I also started hanging out with husband's co-worker's wife and her kid. That was the easiest one because husband hooked us up but I have to make all the effort with that mom (at first I thought she didn't like me because I gave her my phone number but didn't take hers and never heard from her - turns out she's just not that great at making an effort). I made another friend through son's pre-school. I kept dragging Quint on playdates with pre-school friends until I found a mom I clicked with. We set up a weekly playdate so the kids can hang out and I enjoy talking to her. I see lots and lots of other moms at the park though. Maybe start heading to the swings at different times of day until you find when it is most packed and tell someone their kid is cute to strike up a conversation?
He is also in a gymnastics class and swim class but I haven't "clicked" with any of those moms.
I know a bunch of people who do this:
http://www.mops.org/
Maybe there is one in your area?
When my mom had me she was in the same situation as you. She took me to the McDonald's playland. Oh the early 90s were great. Then we would run around the Galleria mall together.
Hopefully the mommy and me swim classes will work out with meeting some people. Perhaps have your DH scout out his work for coworkers around your age with kids around the same age. Do you have any of those splash park by you? (open area with squirting fountains).
I've struggled to meet friends in our new location. I don't know where to start really either.
2012 Reading Challenge
Now Nesting from Chicago, IL My nail blog:
I wish you moved to Atlanta, we would totally hang out and E and L would be the best of friends!
Do you have a gymboree near you? Or anything like it (My Gym, Tumbling Tots) would be good. They do classes for kids at the Y sometimes. I definitely think the swim classes could pan out!
I have friends that do Mops too, it is religious so if that is not your thing it may not be a good fit.
Obsession - White wine is gross. Red wine only, please! And I'll check out Mops too.
Alli - I'll have my DH scout work for friends. His company is moving over from Dallas in a few weeks, he just started here early to avoid being set up in Dallas for a couple of weeks only to be moved to FL. I've already asked him about his boss's wife - apparently they're 'young' and will need to make friends too!
frlcb - you have no idea how much I would rather be in the ATL! Not that FL isn't great, but L is SO CUTE and E could use a good pal. At least one that can show her how to walk!! I never thought about Gymboree - I'm going to Google that now.
Thank you all!
We have Publix here too. Just saying.
Even better. There has to be a few families mixed in there in the same boat as you.
2012 Reading Challenge
Now Nesting from Chicago, IL My nail blog:
Is there a local Nest board for your area? When I was back in the US I met a few people through my local board.
Do you belong to a church? They might have other "mommy and me" events where you could meet people.
I will say it took me about a year before I had regular acquaintances and two before I felt like I had close friends. But I'm not super outgoing so that does put a damper on things.
What helped me was getting out to classes, we did library groups and a local gym place for kids (the little gym, they're all over the world so you might have one nearby). The local Y is also a good spot usually. And if you have a local family network sometimes they run classes. I'd also suggest checking to see if your local nest board is active or trying to figure out if there's a FB group instead or a spin off board. I found a local parenting board that soun off the nest by posting there asking for pediatrician recommendations and someone said here's the link, ask here you'll get better advice. I've met some really great friends through that board since it is local. And then, moving into a neighborhood and going to the playground regularly you just start talking to more people eventually and it goes from there. It takes time but it will get better, I swear.
Oh and off you're religious at all church or MOPS can be good places to meet other families, too.
Chronically hilarious - you'll split your stitches!
I wrote a book! Bucket list CHECK!
http://notesfortheirtherapist.blogspot.co.uk