Anyone else just hate going to playgrounds?

[Happy2be3]

On your own I mean... just you and the kids?

I really dont enjoy it.. Im not really the most sociable of people (not with strangers) and gee I just dont enjoy taking my son to the park by myself and avoid it at all costs.

I either try to find someone else to go with or I dont go .. anyone else feel that way?

[TurnedBatty]

Nope. :D I like to find a quiet park though, because I like to go crazy on the equipment with the kids :o

But I get what you mean, I dont chat to other people either

[Boobycino]

I definitely prefer to meet someone at the park rather than go alone.

Though I've found a park I love and I just go there often and not many people know about it (it's tucked behind an apartment building on the corner of two back 'alley' streets) and so the mums there I've slowly gotten to know them all so generally now when I go I *know* someone.

But generally I won't go to a different park without going with someone because without someone to talk to the park is soooooooooo boorrriiinnnnggggggg !

I put off another mum when I'd never met her and we said hello and I sorta just blurted 'ugh so bored' and she looked at me like I said 'i eat babies'

It's okay to find the park mind numbingly boring. :yes: swing, slide, grass, seen one you've seen them all.

(though there's a park I like to play in, but only when no mums are around cos it's cool ;) but I try to at least pretend I'm an adult some days ;) )

[RoarsomeMum]

Oh heck YES. I get cold sweats thinking about it. all those people.. I hate it.

I hunted around and found a local park that is almost always deserted. I use that, or like you said, find someone to come. Your not alone :no: and :hugs::hugs:

[Happy2be3]

LOL you girls are all so funny!:laughing:

Its not that I dont like parks/playgrounds.. I do! Its the other adults I dont like! LOL!

For some reason it always feels like at least one parent is giving me the evil eye because my child is cuter than theirs, I'm not parenting my son how they would, I'm not being adult enough, I'm being too silly with my son on the slide...just judgemental looks.. get what I mean?

[RoarsomeMum]

For some reason it always feels like at least one parent is giving me the evil eye because my child is cuter than theirs, I'm not parenting my son how they would, I'm not being adult enough, I'm being too silly with my son on the slide...just judgemental looks.. get what I mean?


Yep, I get you, and it took me Waaaaaaaaaaaay to long to learn that all I gain from thinking like that is time lost with my Daughter. No-one is judging me more than I am judging myself, no-one cares how I am parenting my DD, they are too busy making sure their own Kids are safe and not killing mine! Sillyness is not noticed (or when Is its an appreciated gift! makes me feel less silly! :o) and Judgmental looks might be a response to my own closed off "Dont judege me face" I wear even when I try so hard not too.

I have found, thanks (I say NOT! So much) to my DD's verbal skills and need to be social, that she, oh god, :o:eek: tends to bring other peeps over to me, and say, "this is my Mummy! She is SHY!!!!!!!" and well, most times that works well.. I find that no-one was thinking anything I thought they were.. Most of them had not noticed me at all! But after Roar introduced us, seemed nice enough.

I guess All I am saying, is give people, and yourself, a chance.

[Happy2be3]

Mmm yeh I know what youre saying, generally I dont care what others think of me, I just dont enjoy socialising with other parents at the park..

[Nomsie]

Yes, but mostly because the boys run in different directions and they're so darn careless about their own safety that I worry one will fall off high equipment while I'm pushing the other on the swing or something. :rolleyes:

But I also hate it when others are there, I walk right past if people are there already. Because kids don't have manners yet, and if they want to play on something they just go in and push, and I hate having to apologise and try to redirect when some days all I want to do is sit down in the sunshine and drink a hot chocolate or something... :o

[RoarsomeMum]

Is it really only "park parents" that you do not enjoy socialising with? Whats the difference between them and all the other parents at other places?

I figure if you have a social problem it is based on more than parks. But I may be over thinking things, often do.

Struggling to understand why parks and the socialisation there are different to anywhere else. (and not a go, a genuine confusion.)

Maybe just your park? I dunno...

[nothanksbye]

maybe they are not giving you dirty looks and judging you..

maybe they are bored too...or maybe they are lonely.

i go to the park alone allllll the time. i have never ever been judged.

if you go in with the thought of.."i hate this , everyone is judging me" then it will be written all over your face and people will return that look back to you.

i have met some of my closest friends , hanging in the park.

[MordecaiAliVanAllenO'Shea]

I take a book along. Aside from a few pushes on swings and a bit of playing with the kids, the odd bit of help they need, I can get easily an hours reading in - bliss! Avoids having to be social too. Kids get the park, make friends and burn off energy, I get a read and don't have to talk to anyone - win win!

[Boobycino]

LOL you girls are all so funny!:laughing:

Its not that I dont like parks/playgrounds.. I do! Its the other adults I dont like! LOL!

For some reason it always feels like at least one parent is giving me the evil eye because my child is cuter than theirs, I'm not parenting my son how they would, I'm not being adult enough, I'm being too silly with my son on the slide...just judgemental looks.. get what I mean?

awww - not a problem from me, I dont think anyones bub is cuter than mine :p

I do the same thing, I dont feel comfortable acting crazy with other mums around, but the dumb thing is I wouldn't think badly of anyone doing it, I wouldn't think "how silly is she?!" but yeah, if I climb up on the fort and go "weeeee" down the spirally slide after Jasper I do feel like I'm being looked at :o

Oh and I love going on the swings! I was on the swing and a little girl said "look I'm going higher than you!" and her mum was pushing her, it took real restraint not to go "look I can go high too!" and swing high. :o

Enough people assume I'm the babysitter (well, I am, not of Jasper !) or one time asked if he was my brother :confused: ... I am slightly self conscious of the fact I'm a 'young mum' (23 pfft) in a suburb of "older mums" (usually 35+ for the first baby)

Though, I would never say it, it is tempting to say back when I'm asked if I'm the baby sitter etc, say something like "oh its so nice you take your grandchild to the park" :laughing: I NEVER would, but it makes me chuckle on the inside.

THOUGH, I do love the little park we go to, I think everyone who goes there is really friendly, it seems to be where the 'nice' mums go! :yes: