The playground – the college common room of the adult world. We all hang out there, we all fit a certain mould there, and we all size up other parents there – whether we like to admit it or not, making our silent judgements.
Day in day out, against the backdrop of crazy kids running wild and the opportunity to get the teeny tiniest smidge of headspace, we are all brought together in this kiddie showground. However, united in this playground rigamarole we might be, often divided we stand as 9 very different types of parents:
- The I just came here to stare at my iPhone parent
A phenomenon of the 21st century age, this is the parent who thinks pushing their child on their swing comes with a side of reading through work emails, scrolling through Facebook and other inane crap. Torn in internal conflict as to whether they are actually there to push their iPhone or child on the swing. Guilty as charged.
- The I’m going to own this playground malarkey parent
Hey look at me! I’m rolling down the hill, I’m coming down the slide with you, I’m hanging off the monkey bars, I’m going wheeeee! on the merry go round. You can’t work out whether you should laugh at, love or be deeply envious at this parent who seems to have this playground malarkey locked down. Although frequently the mainstay of the lone cool Dad, keep an eye out and sometimes a Mum species can be found doing the happy playground dance, if in season.
- The Help! How can I lose these kids? parent
Yes, you know this parent – the one who looks like they have been bundled into a dark room at gun point and lumped with three kids who are full of hate whilst they float aimlessly through the playground with a look of resignation on their face. Look closely and you will often find them keeping an eye out for any self eject button which might miraculously be hiding within the playground’s vicinity.
- The Oh sorry! I didn’t realize I was supposed to parent, parent
The parent whose child is busy pushing, poking and bopping every child in order to get there first on anything. You won’t hear so much of a peep out of them, and sometime you’re too afraid to look at them in case you’re the one in for a punch in the throat. Possibly a well honed survival strategy or sometimes because someone forgot to confiscate their parenting license.
- The Stalker parent
Me, and my shadow….yes this could very well be their parenting theme tune as they follow those under their care around with the uncanny resemblance of a shadow. Helicopter parenting taken to a whole other level.
- The Staring into the abyss parent
Often found to be playing an extra role in a real life play featuring both a toddler and a baby. Too exhausted to do anything else but simply exist in the playground. Checking out at a playground near you soon.
- The I have seen you a zillion times but still have no idea who you are parent
You know the type, the one who you’ve seen in the playground and hood so many times they just feel so familiar…that is until you decide to finally break the ice and say hi, only to met with the “Who the hell are you” death stare.
- The Oh I just know everybodyyyyyy parent!
Usually the sole territory of mums – they can be found gossiping by the swing, gossiping by the slide and pretty much gossiping everywhere – often putting the world to rights or sharing juicy morsels of chit chat in a huddle with her groupies. You may find yourself standing on the sidelines wondering what you’re missing with this parent around.
- The Oh hello…I think I want to be your friend parent
They emit a certain kind of energy, a certain kind of cool…dare you approach them? Speak to them? Could you make the grade? Could you even…wonder of all wonders…become friends?
Go ahead, fess up…which types do you most relate to?
(This post originally ran on Motherhood: The Real Deal.)
About the author: About the author: Motherhood: The Real Deal is run by Talya, a mum to a very intense, amazing little toddler gal who most of the time specializes in driving her round the bend. Having given up the working mum role when she hit 12 months (she was the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief for an online lifestyle platform) she’s sat on both sides of the fence as a working and then stay-at-home mum and like many, has grappled with the issues which come hand in hand with both scenarios. You can find her on facebook page here, on Twitter here, on Google + here and on Pinterest here.