A Saturday Spin in the Park

We had a group expedition to Meersbrook Park on Saturday. Maia had four of her peeps in attendance: Alec, Sarah, Mummy and Daddy. Everytime we go to the park, as soon as Maia sees the swings she starts yelling 'Hello Swings! Hello Slides! Hello Roundabouts!' It certainly makes for an entrance. This trip was no exception. There were lots more people in the park than our normal afterschool trips, so her precociousness was cool and mildly embarrassing in equal measure.

Maia loved having so many people to join in with her playground activities. She would holler 'Swings!' and then point to the person that had the honour of pushing her that time. As Alec and Sarah were heavily into the spinny things, it was mainly Pat that got to do the pushing.

She has figured out which of the eight spinny things is the Very Best (the yellow one) and makes a beeline for it as soon as we get through the gates. Some of the other kids also like the yellow one, and I have started a couple of 'Hellowillyoubemyfriend' conversations with their parents over the mild squabbling, grudging sharing and eventual bonding over the Yellow Spinny Thing.

This trip, there was a group of three friends (two women and a man) there, all with toddlers and tiny babies. I started up a conversation with a red-haired lady called Imogen, who had a tiny baby strapped to her front, and a toddler haring about getting his trousers filthy.

I suppose the strangest thing about it all (apart from the feeling that I have been transported back fifteen years, and am again the New Kid In School) is that the only thing that we have in common is that we have bred. We haven't met through work, or a hobby, or because we go to the same pub or bar or restaurant, but because we have managed to procreate. I am sure I will find some friends who have babies, and I hope some of them will come from meeting in the park. I just wish it was as easy as it looks for Maia. I need an adult equivalent of the Yellow Spinny Thing.