Mummy and Me Magazine August 2014 September 2014 | Page 40

Daddy & Me

Commando
Dad

COMMANDO DAD ON PLAYGROUPS

L

Brief: Playgroups are fantastic for your troopers – and you.
Don’t be put off if you’re the only dad there: any initial
discomfort will be outweighed by the benefits.

ast weekend I went to speak to a group of
dads at a fantastic group called ‘Dads 4
Dads’ in Burton-on-Trent. I wanted to find out
what experiences were daunting for new dads,
and unsurprisingly, playgroups where they were
in the minority ranked quite highly.

It bought back to me how uncomfortable I had
been the first few times I went to playgroup. I felt
that I was being silently critiqued by all the other
mums (I only saw other dads very occasionally),
who seemed so much more competent than me
at, well, everything. I was all fingers and thumbs. I
managed to get even more
clumsy under what I
TOP TIP
perceived to be their
NUMBER 1
watchful gaze. I
Expect to feel a bit
realised – and not
uncomfortable the first few
without a twinge
times you go – it is a new
of surprise – that I
environment for you, and your
was nervous.
troopers. Remember that troopers
take their lead from you though,
Luckily, neither of
so try not to show how
my sons shared my
uncomfortable you are.
reservations. They
Smile. A lot.
just got stuck in from
day one and absolutely
adored it. And because I
didn’t want to stop them
being in such a
TOP TIP
stimulating and fun
NUMBER 2
environment,
I
Although it is great to let
decided to brave
off steam occasionally, don’t
it out, resigning
fall into the trap of constantly
myself to the
bemoaning how difficult it is to be
fact that it was
a parent. You know how difficult it
never
going
is. Use the play group to find and
to be a cosy
share excellent and effective
experience.
strategies that will make the

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experience enjoyable
and rewarding.

How wrong I was. After a few weeks I began
to be referred to as ‘Sam and Jude’s dad’, and
within H