How to Become Friends with a Family at Daycare

Bless your heart!! It really is easy and it sounds like you all already have things in common - children the same age, working parents, probably the adults are about the same age.

Just ask them over for a simple dinner. It could be hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers. The food doesn't matter; it's the company. Make it early enough that the kids can play before bedtime and everybody can leave in time to put their children down at home.

If that goes well, consider an adults night out. Again, something easy -- maybe meet for drinks after the kids are in bed and left with a sitter. You said you love music. Perhaps a place where there's live music. Right now, outdoors would be a little difficult; but, when it's warmer, how about meeting at the park for a picnic? Remember, simple in the beginning.

These baby-steps will lead to friendships, generally. Most folks do love to be invited to something/anything. Then, they generally realize they need to reciprocate. But, even if they don't invite you, invite them to join you a couple of times. You'll be able to get a feel whether they want to pursue a friendship.

Don't worry about making things too complicated. I'm a great cook and one of my oldest friends wouldn't invite us over because she was intimidated by my skills. I finally told her I didn't care what she served me -- just invite me! We've been friends for over 19 years.

Just take the first step. Invite them. It'll get easier after that!

Good luck. You'll be great!
R.

Not silly at all, and it can be tough, just because it is work :-)

I think the main thing that has bonded my dearest friends are our kids... We have always made sure that the kids are occupied and have fun... It seems like if the kids are occupied, happy and fed, the adults are happy... Adults can sit around the kitchen island with munchies and drinks and visit forever, that is until there is a complaining child :-)

The best thing is when the kids leave wanting to come back, which makes it easy to set up another adult/child play date.

Hope this helps...

Start with a playdate that is completely kid oriented like McDonald's or a park. If that goes well and everyone gets along suggest a playdate at your house. If it is just a playdate just make sure you have enough kid friendly snacks and a couple of drink options and just sit and chat while the kids play. If that goes well then suggest a dinner at your house. Keep the dinner very simple. Just make something you love to make that is easy or order take-out. If playdates have gone well than a dinner will be no different you will just had cooking a meal to it. If you would like have an adult friendly board game or card game available to play after dinner, but like I said if playdates have gone well then it will be super easy to entertain with a meal. Don't be stressed, it is way more simple than you think. Just extend the invitation and let it all go along as it will. When my friends and I get together we very rarely even have a plan, we just let the kids entertain each other in another room while we have a drink (alcohlic or not doesn't matter) and chat if it gets close to meal time we make a plan for that but other than that we just sit and relax and enjoy adult conversation while the kids play. Good luck to ya!

Jessica,
You have gotten ALL good advice. Even a coffee date with the other mom alone would be a start. Anything really. This is what I tell my kids, "It's okay to be afraid, but do it anyway."
Take the first step!
P.

I was approached by a mom at day care for my email address. She said that my son and hers were "pals" and that since we lived in close proximity, would it be ok to email me.

I thought...how great is it that she took the initiative. And how sad it was that I didn't. (we are older mom's)

We email occassionally and always say hello in and out of the daycare. We converse when we have the time via email and she has invited Milo over for her son's birthday (his FIRST INVITE!! I"M SO EXCITED).

I vote ask for her email address so that you guys can have a conversation/invite her to a playdate/go to coffee/lunch/girls night out movie...and then see what happens from there.

It's SO HARD to meet people. I am grateful she made the first step...and who knows...she may be too!!

Sending good thoughts your way.

We had the same problem and have a 4 year old girl. We did a play date at McDonalds and one at the zoo. Then they invited us over for burgers and we then invited them over for pizza. Do you ever see the parents at bday parties. That is how we got the phone number. After talking at another child's party.