how was your first experience

just want to hear about other mums first experience with a new playgroup.

Good or bad experience, did you make life long friends?, was it fun, what activities were there?

thanks

Ours was a parents group set up by the council. When we started, we had 3-5month-olds, and they were only children for all of us.
TBH, I really didn't like it at first! I didn't feel as though I fit in.
But I kept going because it was an activity that was cheap, LOL. Now, our kids are 2, we have new members and we have set it up like a playgroup with activities/craft/singing etc. I love it. And I have made a couple of fantastic mates. It just took us some time to get to know one another better.
Interestingly, I didn't think I fit in at first because many of them are 10 years older than me. But the older ones are actually better friends now than the ones closer to my own age.

We have been going to playgroup for 2 years now and tbh it has taken me a full 18 months to get comfortable there. I aslo went with friends so it was not as if I didn't have anyone to talk to etc.

Now after having 2 kids I love it. It is a sanity saver for me and a place for the kids to have some cheap fun.

I could imagine how hard it would be to join a new group without having anyone else there to support and welcome you. Last year we seemed to have set groups within the community and it felt a bit like school with the in and out group. To new mums the whole experience seemed very daunting and a lot did not come back. Now we have people dedicated to welcoming new mums and bubs and it seems to have worked.