Autumn Winter 2016 2016:2 | Page 36

Finding your tribe Katie’s story H arrived by emergency C-section at 34 weeks, after complications from placenta praevia, foiling our best-laid pre-baby preparations. A hectic trip to IKEA and delving into the supermarket solved the material problems, but what about our support network? Like many expectant parents, we’d signed up for NCT classes, and were lucky enough to land the group of funny, friendly, lovely people that everyone promises you’ll meet. I’d looked forward to bonding over the steep learning curve of parenthood and nappy stories, but our premature exit from the group made me wonder if anything would stick. Thankfully, we all kept in touch, and these friendships were inevitably supplemented by everyone you meet along the way — at local groups, clinic trips, or even while chatting in queues. Babies are an excellent talking point. It’s now seven months on, we’ve just moved over 100 miles away. We’re faced again with the daunting task of making local parent friends, but hindsight means I’m on the case. Internet forums and social media pages are a great place to start, whether you’re posting or browsing, because they offer tip-offs about nearby groups and events. Coffee mornings or play sessions are particularly good as they’re low or nocost and often don’t require any commitment (allowing you to try out different ones or attend several), while baby classes are an easy ice breaker and mean you’ll get to know the same people each week. One-off events like second-hand sales can instantly help you to feel part of a community of local parents and are, along with libraries, often a good bet for further information. Finally, get walking with the pushchair or carrier as much as you’re able — it seems that nothing is as good a conversation-inducing beacon to other parents as a park outing. Parenthood is a wonderful but sometimes challenging or isolating time, particularly as you find your feet. A supportive tribe of mums and dads can make all the difference. So if you see me looking lost, Breton stripes on and baby in tow, don’t hesitate to say hi! -Katie 35