Group dilema

I was just wondering what other mothers groups/playgroups do when a number of mums can no longer attend due to work commitments. Do you change your group day to one that suits all the mums or do you just take the stance that the whole group shouldn't have to change for a couple of people?

We just have this dilemma at the moment, I can see both side of the argument. I for one do not want to change days, but am happy to have special outings a couple of times a month on the alternate day. Others want to move the day completely, and others want 2 days per week. The main problem is that we need to find another venue to change days (which costs more) and a number of us do not want to lose the current venue. Of course there are other issues, such as favoritism, if it was me or some of the other mums, would they be so eager to change. Also does this set a precedent to muck around with the day every time it doesn't suit someone. I am a big believer in what suits the majority and at the moment 70% of the group can still attend the normal day.

Has any other group gone through this and how did they manage it?

Hi Astrid,
Yes, our Mum's group went through this. 3 of us returned to part time work and 4 are SAHM. 4 years later and a few additional babies and we still meet every week. I guess it depends how much you want to really stay together and how well you get along. We are all very easy going and there is no competitiveness. It has turned out that Friday is the only day we can meet due to work committments and the only time we could get a venue was 2.30, so while none of us think it is ideal, we all wanted to stick together so that is what happens!
As for changes in the future, we considered changing when our children started 3 yr old kinder but that made things even more complex so we stuck with friday. It will be even more difficult next year with 4 year old kinder so don't know what we will do.
good luck with the decision. I love my mums group ( a big part of that is because I am an older mum and have only one friend who has children the same age as mine so it is my only opportunity for myself and dd to socialise at the same time) I think that we will be a group that still meets well after our kids have grown up, so I guess it depends how much you value the group for you and your child. if you have heaps of other social interaction then it may not be so important for you.

It is a tricky one, for sure.

My old Darwin mummies group was pretty flexible (same thing happended, some returned to wrok after 12 months etc) but it was majority rules.

Now I'm in Adelaide my mummies group (only 4 of us) can ONLY meet on a Tues......it is the only day we can coordinate due to work/kindy/committmets etc, so again, majority rules through lack of choice!

Most of the mums in my group are working part time. Friday is the only day that everyone can make it, but there's one girl who has playgroup on this day. She's not happy to miss playgroup once a fortnight, so we are doing Tuesday one fortnight, and Friday the other. It gets a little bit confusing, but it's working o.k.

We had the same problem, mums returning to work and of course the sleeping issues, 'Mine sleeps at 10.30 to 12 so can we change to 1.30pm' etc. Of course we didn't change anything because as we all know routine changes especially when they cut back to one sleep a day. As time went on the mums who went back to work have now had their second bubs and so still come along on the orignal day. All but 2 of the mums who went back to work arranged not to work the day we had play group. I guess what made it easier for us too was that the regulars (me and 3 others) who turned up every week unless we were sick were happy with the time and day. The others turned up only when it suited them so we felt why should we change to accommodate them IYKWIM? Its a hard one and depends on the group but keep in mind you aren't going to please everyone. Perhaps if you have a large group,the ones who can't make the orginal day can start their another group on a day and time that suits them? We had a large gourp of 10 to start with, we are now down to 8 and we have 4-5 regulars so the day is always great regardless of who turns up.

Thanks for the feedback. It looks as though we will have 2 days per week for the rest of the year, and see what happens after that. There is about 10 of us, so I assume that is large. I do find about 5 or 6 turning up is a nice number, not too crowded, the bubs have room to play and sometimes everyone can be in on the same conversation. When we did get us all together is was very overwhelming.

It is certainly hard to find the balance between seeing everyone, best venue and of course your own personal needs/wants. I suppose I just want to make sure that no-ones needs are overlooked.

There are only 4 in our mothers group, so we meet up at each others homes, and now that 3 of us are at work, we do it on a saturday or sunday.