Exmouth Author Emma Richardson writes for the Journal.

Isn’t it funny how you can be jogging along through life doing the usual day to day bits and pieces, only really seeing the people in your immediate circle and then all of a sudden bump into faces you’ve not seen in ages. I had a weekend like this a couple of weeks ago- first in the aisle at Lidl, then in the park walking the dog. It was only five minutes ago that my kids were little- or so it seems. Weekdays were toddler groups, swimming lessons, primary school pick-ups; always too much to do, not enough sleep and every conversation was half-finished, interrupted by the demands of one child or another. At the time you don’t realise how full your life is with people- other parents on the same merry-go-round and the nursery assistants and teachers that have a professional interest in your children. I didn’t realise it then, but this is such an important time in our lives for nurturing friendships with other people. There’s something so lovely about catching up with an old friend, finding out what their family are up to and sharing news of your own. Our connections to others are what holds our society together.

Conversely, I have seen a lot of posts on social media of late from young mums reaching out to say how much they are struggling mentally and emotionally. I know we’re a good year clear of the Pandemic, but it strikes me that all those routines and things I took for granted with my kids were massively interrupted for young families. Some may never have had the opportunity to get involved with such playschemes at a time when they were crucial not just for the children but for the adults too. I also know that turning up to a toddler group can be a daunting task if you don’t know anyone else there, and we have definitely all become more cautious of social interaction since Covid. However, I’d just like to put out there how friendly other parents can be and how welcoming; nobody understands the struggles of parenthood more than other parents! I would encourage anyone looking after little people to find a group to go to- a great place to start is the Library with their Bounce and Rhyme sessions, and they often have posters up for other groups too. Church halls and community centres are other good places to find parent and toddler groups or you can also ask on Facebook family forums. So for all those young families feeling isolated or overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Taking that first step could be the start of some beautiful friendships. In the blink of an eye, you find yourself standing in the park discussing your adult children and their jobs/universities/life partners. Make the most of the time when they’re little.