[JoanneG]

Here I am again posting for a friend!

My friend is new to staying at home with the kids (aged 1 & 3) after previously having a fairly stressful job in the UK. The family have recently relocated to Whitby, near Wellie and have not yet made many friends. Mum is working full time in a demanding job and is pretty busy.

I'm a bit concerned about Dad - you Mum's out there can probably guess why!

The dream of staying home with your kids, playing with them doing lots of fun stuff can descend into a bottom wiping, nappy changing, floor scrubbing pit of despair!!

So, Whitby/Wellie parents - can you help with ideas, places to go etc. Are there any other Stay at home Dads in the area? Parent Networking Clubs?
Anything to stop my friend going insane.........:exit !!

[jubjub]

Tell him to go along to the local plunket offices and get a list of the local playgroups/music sessions.

We love it when dads come along to ours, its so nice to see them with the kids instead of always being the mums!

www.plunket.org.nz (http://www.plunket.org.nz)

Also swimming lessons or baby gym (jumping beans or similar), gets you out of the house and a bit of a conversation with other folks. Bear in mind though during the week its usually women, but if he were to go on a saturday morning, it tends to be dads only, he may feel a bit better starting out that way!

[twinkledoc]

Hello Joanne, I hear you entirely, your friend is in exactly the same shoes my hubby was 2 years ago. Had a stressful job commuted everyday and after 3 years of this , he gave it up to stay at home with the kids. It was rosy for 1 month but after that he didn't want to be at home anymore.
Well, we live in Whitby and you can PM me and your friend could meet my hubby and get tips on how to survive as "stay at home dad"