And the playgroup concept
is not a new one: baby
boomers' moms and their
mothers before them would
gather at what used to be
popularly called coffee
klatsches.
But women in earlier years
were part of families which
had, at most, one car. Grand-
mothers were often not only
an integral member of one's
household, but extra care-
givers as well.
Dr. Alicia Tisdale, child and
family therapist in Bloom-
field Hills, remarks, "The ex-
tended family as we used to
know it has really vanished.
Playgroups represent a form
of close, extended family for a
lot of moms and their kids.
And even if the kids only
engage in parallel play,
they're with other children
and the sounds of laughter
and learning."
They also prove how much
they are creatures of habit.
Says Susan Dovitz, "Our
kids genuinely link playgroup
to bagels. Last Passover, they
were all totally disoriented
when we served matzah, in-
stead!"
At Michel Weinberger's
playgroup in Huntington
Woods, the kids are typically
offered crackers and juice or
perhaps fruit and cheese for
a snack. This summer, the
playgroup members have
opted to meet at local parks
instead of each other's homes
early Wednesday afternoons.
Mrs. Weinberger, mother of
2-year-old Alison, was, like
Wendy Flusty, the "new
mother" in the group when
she joined neighbor Marci
Mayer's playgroup a little
over a year ago.
"I very much needed to be
with others who had kids so
I could bounce ideas off them
and enjoy their company. Ali
was the youngest, and the
other moms made me feel
very welcome."
Mrs. Weinberger had been
an inhalation therapist for

several years before switching
careers and learning court
reporting. Because she con-
tinues to work part-time, it
was doubly important that
she carve out some time to be
with her peers in a relaxed
social setting and share an ac-
tivity with her daughter.
Suzanne. London, child
therapist on staff at Affiliated
Psychologists of Michigan,
P.C., believes playgroups —
like other support groups —
give women a respite from the
tensions of daily life.
"Playgroups give mothers
an opportunity to discuss dai-
ly child-rearing issues with
their peers. But they have ad-
ditional benefits. The mere
fact of being with their child
in the same environment —
including the car trip
together — is a form of quali-
ty time. I really encourage
parents to engage in play-
groups. They are also ex-
cellent ways to observe how
their children interact with
other youngsters and develop
friendships."
Mrs. Weinberger's play-
group includes Marci Mayer
and her son, Ben, who is
almost 3; Naomi Behrmann
and her daughters, Katie, 3,
and Mindy, 1; Jill Pines and
her 3-year-old daughter, Erni- ,
ly; and Sarah Goodman, 2 1/2,
who is accompanied by her
nanny, Sally Miller.
Jan Goodman works full-
time and wanted her
daughter to be able to
socialize with other young
children, Mrs. Miller says.
"I've enjoyed and ap-
preciated their friendliness,"
M.rs. Miller says. "They enjoy
watching me relate to Sarah
as her nanny. We discuss the
children's development and
trade stories. What's nice is
that I learn from their
generation and they can also
benefit from my experience as
the mother of three grown
children."
She adds, "Just as some of
the young working moms to-

Left: Stacy Wallach and
daughter Shelby enjoy
swinging outdoors.
Below: The moms manage to
have a coffee break while
the kids play.

day need companionship, I
was feeling a similar need.
For many years I had been a
draftsperson. Switching to be-
ing a nanny has been very
rewarding, but it can feel
isolating at times. For Sarah
and me the weekly playgroup
is an activity to look forward
to!'
Naomi Behrmann and Jill
Pines had summer obliga-
tions which necessitated their
temporary absence from the
weekly playgroup, but Mrs.
Weinberger is hopeful that
their group will reunite in the
fall.
And as the children involv-
ed grow and approach
nursery school age in the Far-
mington Hills playgroup,
some schedule changes will
inevitably occur.
"Three of us have enrolled
our children at Temple Israel
Nursery School this fall,
which will preserve some of
the continuity of the play-
group for them," Stacy
Wallach says.
What's clear to all the
members is that whatever
directions their children may
take, the moms have been
enriched by laughing and liv-
ing through some of the
merry and mundane days of a
mother together. These newer
friendships formed as adults
are a dividend they can enjoy
when their playgroup days
are over. ❑

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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