I took the 2 younger children to an art fair in town.  What a fun time we had.  The girls made at least 10 different art projects and aside from a parking & concessions the projects were free. 

There was a talent contest there too.  It was actually the finals as it was the last day of the fair.  One of the girls was very good.  Good stage presence & even danced while singing. By far the best one the girls & I thought.  She ended up not winning though. 

 Another girl who sung ok won it.  I think part of my not liking her was the type of music she sung.  I am mostly country & christian type but the girls do enjoy pop too & I can handle some of that.  I just don't like a teenager singing about a man not leaving her the next morning & all the wooooo wooooo's in a song when they are not necessary.  (To each is own)

All in all we had a really fun time.

I have a question about co-ops too.  How many of you are in them & what types of things do you do?

We were in one a couple years back that was really fun.  Different moms shared their talents & taught a class that lasted for 5 weeks 1 day a week.  The only fees were a small charge for each family to pay to the church for use of their facilities & no more than $5 class fee.  ----We loved it! 

Then, for some reason, they turned it into like a school.  You still only went 1x a week, but they turned it into a yearly thing instead of short segments.  They teach things like biology, grammar, history.  I do that at home!  Even one of the founders of the group said it was not what she ever intended but the majority wanted it so she stepped down.

Anyway, I saw online where a woman who used to go is starting something up.  It looks like a half-year thing with art, writing & music classes.  --Some of these women like drama (from experience) so I just think it's probably not for us.

I would like to start something similar, but don't want to step on toes.  I was thinking of maybe just starting a weekly  or bi-weekly park day & if a mom wants to teach or host something to do that day then it would be ok or we could just let the kids run & play the whole time.  What do you think?

Posted by Mellanie

I started a little playgroup which has been such a blessing to our family! I really didn't want to deal with a co-op-- too formal, to big a commitment. So I have been trying to keep our playgroup going. We meet at a local park on alternate fridays for two hours. No "membership," not a dime in cost, show up or don't show up without stress, no commitment. We just let the kids play at the park, and us moms talk. It is the most wonderful thing! Myself and another mom never miss it, a third mom is there about 3/4 of the time, and other people drop in and out on occassion. I wish there were more people, but what there is has been wonderful. Maybe something like that will work for you?