I am one of two co-chairs of Chicago's
Neighborhood Parent Network's West Town Club. Both my co-chair, Kelly, and I are are new volunteers. We've been emailing and talking on the phone for a few weeks now, and we finally met each other in person last week. Today we held our first neighborhood event - a picnic in Wicker Park.
A lot of families came, thank goodness. Kelly and I and our families were the only ones there for the first half hour, and I was getting a little nervous. But more and more families kept arriving and spreading out blankets and they were all so nice and talkative and friendly and best of all, live in my neighborhood. (Oh, to have friends in my neighborhood! Parent-friends!) Pretty soon the lawn was covered in blankets and the blankets were covered with parents, and the parents were occupied with their strollers, dogs, and babies.
Babies everywhere! Jett was the oldest kid there, and Kai was the second oldest by about a year. I had packed a soccer ball, bubbles, and temporary tattoos for the kids - and none of them were old enough to use them. Except my kids, of course, but they didn't stick around. They dragged Charlie from soccer field to playground, to farmer's market and back again, while I lounged on my blanket and talked with the parents.
A few new moms were getting ready to go back to work. Some were trying to breastfeed discreetly under blankets and blouses and covers. Dads were shaking bottles and bouncing babies. Some parents were trying to get their babies to nap in their strollers so they could stay and keep socializing. Almost all of the parents were looking for childcare and debating the merits of nannies and day care centers and home day cares, and
au pairs.
I felt...experienced. I felt like handing out advice, but I didn't, because those are personal decisions and I'm still a stranger. I sat in the sun and listened to their conversation and.....I secretly rejoiced that at least I don't have to worry about breastfeeding and two-naps-a-day and maternity-leave-ending anymore. Everyone should have a chance to remember what they don't have to worry about any more.
Then I looked up to see that Jett had accidentally kicked his soccer ball at the back of a woman lying in the sun and Kai had spilled his bubbles all over his feet while he was trying to sneak away, and....well, silly me, for feeling so smug.
Anyway, I can't wait to see all those families at our next West Town Club event. I better start planning....
