A community of mothers

I have written before about the need for a mothering centre in our fair city -- a childproofed place filled with toys and books where you can drop in any time of day and sit and have a coffee and talk to other parents.  Because as the days grow cold and afternoons at the park come are no longer a real option, you need a place where the kids can burn off some energy and you can regain a tiny bit of sanity. 

Now there are commercially driven enterprises where you can pop in and, say, have a massage or buy a $200 diaper bag while your kids play.  Or, where you can pay $7-10 to have access to a commercially-run indoor playground.  Or, you can do like I do, and let them run through the shopping mall with wild abandon (yes, I am one of those parents). (And, yes, I do know about the city-run Playground Paradise but have yet to make the journey over there)

It's really not enough.

But I discovered a place -- city funded to boot -- which is the closest thing that I've found to what I've been looking for.  Children's Storefront, at Bathurst and Dupont is a city-funded drop-in space for children and their caregivers (with, I assume some funding provided by the province since it is one of their early years centres). 

It is a storefront space filled with a climbing apparatus and slide, trains, a playhouse, a library, arts and crafts and a communal kitchen with a pot of coffee and tea always on the go and some baking brought in my volunteers.  They have a crib there for babies and a change area in the washroom. 

It is a very warm and welcoming environment.  Friendly staff, very breastfeeding friendly, lots of mums. 

But it ain't spanking new.  Apparently it's been around for 30 years and  -- well -- it shows. Although the books and toys seem modern, and the place is very clean, the facilities themselves are old.  Really old. 

And it is really hard to find any information out about it.  No web site, no brochure.  I had to dig to find out about it. 

I also found out about an two early years centres (College Montrose Children's Place and Malvern Family Resource Centre) that offer ad hoc childcare for free just so mums/caregivers can take a breather for an hour or two.  But again, it's hard to find this stuff out.

And why is that?  Why are these places such well-kept secrets.  Why does it feel like every generation of mothers must reinvent the wheel? 

 

Comments

[Julie King]

Actually the Early Years Centre website is a great way to find such drop-ins in your area as well as the programs they offer.

http://www.ontarioearlyyears.ca/oeyc/en/home.htm

[Running2Ks]

That is a wonderful idea. So many of us are stumped for winter playgroup activities.

[Patience]

I think every generation of mothers faces different issues. I also think to make a good community you need a bunch of moms who at least have a few things in common; socio economic; common language, interests etc. Many moms of ethnic groups seem to form their own support groups within their communities.

The thing in Toronto is that English speaking stay at home middle class moms are not exactly in the majority here. This is where La Leche League became my community. Some moms homeschool and embrace that group; others find community through the local public school. Was it easier a few generations ago? Maybe but they had their own frustrations as well.

[Sharon]

YUP..we here in the Ottawa area would love something like that. I hear there is a plce in downtown TO called the Rainbow Cafe, where moms can go and have a coffee while there little ones play, I think supervised ont he the other side of a glass wall with toy and all sorts of thing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I would love to see something like that everywhere, just abit bigger. A place where we mom's could chat and watch our kids play or take a class and just relax. Maybe a place where there are many area for many kids to do stuff. Jungle gym....crafts...music...you know the works.

Hummmmm