New member SAHD with a 6 month old daughter...how is this group doing?? Looking for playgroups, etc. with other dads to share ideas and places to go

Tom

Praise God! I feel like I have been stranded on a desert island for 3 years and I finally see a ship on the horizon! I just joined this SAHD website and till now thought I really was the only SAHD in Connecticut!!! I feel and look like Tom Hank's in "Castaway," except I have a child with me that never seems to age. So there are others out there! I'm in the Hartford area. Dads, row a boat to my shores here! Hello...Hello...

Welcome Tony, I am from Windsor as well and dad to a 7 month old. We should get together and try to get the group rolling.

From Salem, CT so I'm within easy travel distance

getting things going. I am willing to travel as well. I will post some suggestions and you guys do the same and we can see where and when we can get together.

I'm new to the Yeastern part of CT (lived in CT my whole life) and have been looking for daddy....uhhhhh, I mean infant friendly.... type activities in this area. Most of the things I've thought about were mostly for MY entertainment and to get me out of the house, not much entertains a 6 m/o... I've thought about going to the beach, exploring some greenway trails and I'm checking into an infant swim class at the Norwich (I believe its there, I'll ask my wife) Y...I think that starts next week or thereabouts. I used to be a runner so I have a jogging stroller with big wheels for the trails and even with my bad back I'm looking into an infant backpack to haul my young 'un. Last time I took her out in the front mount carrier my back suffered for days....

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I'm in West Springfield, ma and can't really travel past hartford - sorry guys - one car and wife works odd hours (usually second shift, but hopefully she will be getting the day shift she requested.) If you guys have an activity towards windsor locks or enfield, I would be interested in going... If you guys hear of any dads up this way, feel free to give them my e-mail. BTW, my son is 8 1/2 months old - Crawling, Teething, and generally getting into anything and everything that comes into his reach.

I would be cool with that. Let me know when you plan on going maybe we can meet. FamilyGuy I can pick you up if you are interested.

Depending on what town its in, I could bring my wife to work that day and meet you guys down there. When someone gets the details, let me know....

Sorry, I thought Norwich came through with the cut-n-paste....It's in Norwich, if you take route 2 it would be just off exit 27. You guys should car pool, wot, an hour nap from Windsor??

Any day and any time is fine with me so it's....... wot works for you?

Tom

I would be able to make it this week, but it has been a rough week with a teething boy, finals and nights being sucked dry with work or studying etc. Lets keep the ideas up though and get this group rolling.

Some ideas....farm in Avon with a petting zoo area. Beardsley Zoo. Basketball Hall of Fame. Wadsworth. Dr. Seuss museum. Any Park for a hike...near or far. and on and on...

Hello, other stay at home dads. I have a three and half month son, Kai. We are also looking for things to do that gets us out of the house. I know of a few hikes in Simsbury that might be worth a try, or just going out for lunch would okay too.

Hey alaskannomad!

Welcome to the group. I used to live in Bristol so I'm familiar with
your part of the state, used to hang out at the reservoirs in WH mtn
biking, running and hiking . Always up for something to get us out of the
house.

Tom

Yes, the WH reservoirs are nice. For me it's only 10 min drive. Where are you at? How many kids do you have? ages?

I'm out near the Casinos, in Salem, CT. We have one daughter that is 7 months old.

Alaskannomad

I've just got back on line and saw your reply. Been swamped lately preparing for the summer with my child. This is my 3rd summer with him as a SAHD and it can be brutal if you don't have a plan for the days. He is in preschool for 2 more weeks. Yes, we should try to get together, individually or with a group! My son is 5, is gentle with others of all ages, and definitely loves to play with toddlers (as we often watch our neighbor's). What is your availability? Are you with a group? We're game!

Hey Dads,

Suggestion for a get together:
Have you guys been to Jonathan's Dream in West Hartford. A great playscape that guarantees a couple of hours of fun! Huge enclosed outdoor area with slides, sandbox, bridges, rope swings, regular swings... I go there frequently with my 5 year old. It's such a cool place. Anyone interested in meeting there? We're pretty sick right now with a flu that's going around, but any suggestions for next week maybe?
Joel's Dad

Unfortunately for us my daughter is still too young to be able to use anything like that.....but I'm not

It seems we have a good common group of ages in that those with babies are in the 6-9 month range and then 5 year olds. We should try to get together and do something in line with all age groups and that would mean hikes or galleries or farms. I would be up for a meet at the West Hartford Reservoir for one or go towards Tommyd for a number of parks in So. CT.

I can do WED or Thurs. WH Res. 11:00am or 2:00pm or Thurs for a longer trip any time.
another idea. http://www.flamigfarm.com/index.html

Hey Guys!
I was just going through my SPAM box and saw these posts that got sent there automatically.

My name is Don and I live in Tolland. I have 2 kids, a 4yr old son and a 17mo old daughter. Our favorite playgrounds are Connors Place in Somers and Northwest Park in Manchester. I also like to take the kids on hikes (generally not too long as he will get bored befor too long and she is in a backpack carrier) and explore places outside. One of my son's favorite things to do is feed ducks, catch worms, salamanders, frogs & throw rocks in the water!

I'm willing to drive to places, so I'd be up for meeting almost anywhere. Looking forward to getting together and meeting you guys!

Don

Howdy and welcome.....now we're getting somewhere, looking forward to getting us all together

Hey Tommy,

Do you still run? I'd like to give the resivoirs a shot, as I hear its a good place to run.

I've done a handful of Half Marathons, and ran my first marathon this past fall. I'm no means fast, just love to run...especially the long runs on the weekends: Kid free time!!!

I make attempts to still run...NOTHING like I used to though. I have started running during our mid morning walks pushing my daughter in her running stroller, mostly slow and up the hills here. The Rez is a BEAUTIFUL place to run, there used to be tarred roads that we did our first road race of the season on, the Tax Track. There are also (I haven't been there in years but they MUST still be there) all manner of trails I used to mountain bike on, from wide walking trails to single track deer type trails. I have a spare bike that I could loan someone after I have it tuned up. THAT is a killer workout, even when I was in good shape it would still leae me wheezing after some intense up and down hills...I'm up for it, be it running or biking

Is the Connecticut group still active?

Anyone out in the Eastern part of CT?

I am a FT Stay-at-Home Dad with a part time work-from-home business. I am primarily at home with my son who is just shy of 14 months.

My son and I get out and go geocaching, hiking and the occassional swim class. When we go geocaching or hiking it is more like I do the walking and he gets carried in a snugli or soon, a backpack!

Any Dads with children about the same age interested in forming a playgroup? I would like to see my son play with more kids his age...right now all the children near me are so much older or too young.

Anyone?

Hey Russ!

I'm still here....

I'm yeastern CT also, not far from Mohegan Sun. I'm the proud dad of a 1 y/o daughter and been looking for playdates/mates for both myself and my daughter, I'm home f/t and don't work.

Give me a shout if ya want to talk more.

Tom and Arrielle

Thanks Tommy! I will try to get a hold of you. Salem is a bit of a ride, but maybe!

Henry and I have taken to hiking the Airline Rail Trail which starts in East Thompson and runs through East Hampton and is even being extended into Portland.

Some areas are improved and paved, so strollers, bikes, etc. are acceptable on the trail. Other sections of the trail are unimproved and will have to be walked or in the case of smaller children, carried. Henry currently rides in a backpack along the path with me. When we get to paved areas this will probably change!

Anyone who would like to join us is welcome. We usually go once a week, even in the cold weather. We will probably go right up until is snows, then suspend the hiking until the spring. Days vary according to weather, but I could give everyone a days notice if we put a mailing list together. If you are only interested in certain sections (Henry and I are currently working on hiking the Thompson-Putnam section) I can keep you posted as to where we are and you can join us for those sections. Our goal is to do the entire trail from the Massachusetts Border to East Hampton! Generally Henry and I hike through the middle of the day when he is awake the longest (he currently naps from 8 to 10ish), so we hit the trail between 11 and 12 and hike for an hour, then its time to get lunch before afternoon nap.

Anyone interested send me an e-mail and I will be glad to put you on the list to join us.

Russ F