What we’re about
Let's be real here. As a busy single parent, one of the biggest challenges, especially for us solo DADS (but yes, even for you solo MOMS) is making new friends -- both for ourselves and for our kids! It's not that we don't try. We go to the park, the library, school events, square dances, anywhere but under the bridge, hoping to grow a vibrant, supportive social circle of like-minded parents whose kids play well with ours. We exchange a number here and there, but all too often, life happens, schedules don't sync, or other parents flake out, and we start to settle for letting our kids play with whoever they find wherever we happen to be while we scroll on our phone and look up every now and then to smile at the other phone-scrollers.
My friends, let us not accept such a fate for ourselves. We are single parents -- we are WARRIORS! We are the teeth-gritted Atlases and Amazons of this world -- far be it from us to give up.
This group is designed to facilitate new FRIENDSHIPS, by creating and participating in fun events with the dedicated goal of single parents walking away with a new, solid connection that they're mutually and genuinely excited about, both for themselves and for their kids.
Note that this is not an adult dating or a matchmaking group. The formats will generally strive to facilitate dads finding other dads and moms finding other moms. That still tends to be how the majority of friendships form -- though of course, there will be no rules that you can't interact with and befriend anyone else who attends.
Most events will be for parents AND their kids: parks, community rooms, service opportunities. Random examples:
- Cornhole "Speed Dating"
- Team Scavenger Hunts
- Round Table Lego Build Party
- Mannequin Make-up Contest
- Dungeons and Dragons One-Shot (For Kids)
- Animal Shelter Dog Walk
Some events may be for parents only -- but always with the twist of a "mission" that you have to accomplish on behalf of your kid(s). Random examples:
- Museum walk (but your kid assigns you something to take a picture of while you're there, i.e. a painting with a cat)
- Sports bar watch party (but you have to memorize one special play to recount to your kid later)
- Small coffee circle (you have to find another parent who shares some interest or interesting fact with your kid)
Whatever the setting, my goal is to craft events that foster conversation and interaction in focused ways, minimizing awkwardness with clear goals and kid-centric activities or conversation goals. The objective is to form friendships with other parents on the level of BEING parents, because when your kids come first, at the end of the day, a parent is always what you are.