Calling all Lesbians with children

There are few things in life more valuable than connecting with other human beings.  Ox Babies LGBT Parents & Kids Playgroup is one way for the LGBT community to do so.  It’s a group for LGBT parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to get together in a casual park setting and connect with other families like their own.  February’s play date was at Paul Sanders Park in Brandon , FL.  It was a frigid day, which seems to be the norm as of late, for our playgroup meet-up day.  (pictured: Amanda with the youngest of her 4 children Abrielle)

For this meet-up we planned ahead and brought cocoa and tea to warm the parent’s hands, as the kids seem to take the cold in stride as they run and frolic about.  Children can’t seem to resist cocoa, or perhaps it’s actually the marshmallows that get plopped into it and melt into a frothy sweet mess.  Either way, it was an addition to our play date that will surely be kept on the chilly days we meet. 

As the group has been ongoing since November of 2009, we have all had a chance to actually start to get to know each other.  Some of the women are shy, and others are boisterous.  The children are making some new friends and it’s wonderful to see the camaraderie building within the group.  New parents and children have arrived at every meet-up and we are all simply having a wonderful time as we get to know each other, hang out, play and do some crafts!  This month’s craft was sewing with raffia onto construction paper to make a Valentine card.  Some of the parents had never touched a needle before, and it was an awesome event to see them partake in this with their children! 

Check out the photo for this playdate at http://prosuzy.phanfare.com/4572895#imageID=93540583 Children seem to really appreciate when a parent can admit they have absolutely no idea what their doing, stink at it, and then keep trying until they get better at it.  After all, isn’t that what we try to get our children to do, just about everyday and at just about everything?

In the Tampa Bay Area there are so many wonderful things to do in the LGBT community because of ProSuzy; it is truly a thriving family oriented community.  However, there are few things to do for gay parents and their children.  So, even if you are single, partnered with someone that has children, adopted, have handicapped children, are trying to come out, came out after becoming a parent, or even came out later in life as a grandparent, you are welcome at Ox Babies.

Ox Babies meet monthly at various locations in the Tampa Baby Area, including Brandon , Tampa , and St. Petersburg , FL.  Some of the parks have included Paul Sanders Park , St. Pete Beach Community Center, and Lettuce Lake Park .  The calendar is ever changing, so to keep up to date check out the Ox Babies Calendar at www.OxImages.com, or sign up for the www.ProSuzy.com mailing list.  Hope to see you at Lealman Community Park in St Pete  for the March 13th play date!

Amanda Vagianos, www.Type-A-Mom.com Lesbian Moms Editor, is passionate about organizing, creating, and bringing people together.  She does this through the Ox Babies LGBT Play Group, photography business and blog she runs.