No Dads Allowed! This Means YOU!

Note: This originally appeared on DadCentric on November 3, 2005.

Yesterday, I received a comment from Mr. SAH'D. Seems he took his son to a playground and it was packed with other children and their mothers. He began talking to one of the mothers and found out it was a playgroup for stay-at-home moms. When he inquired about becoming a member, he was told, "Next time [the playgroup] meets, we could vote to allow you in."

The hell? It's 2005, people!

I've met a lot of cool moms at the playground. We talk about the kids, the weather, different amusements in the area, blah, blah, blah. You know, friendly small talk.

I've also seen a lot of stuffy Buffys and Muffys, the kind of moms who are only at the park to socialize, sitting in their lawn chairs, sipping their Starbucks, all dolled up like they're headed to the Debutante Ball, while their kids are dangling from their toes at the top of the monkey bars or buried headfirst in six feet of sand. I'm assuming these are the types of moms Mr. SAH'D met.

I wonder how his application process will go....

President: Ladies, the Committee for Urban Newborn and Toddler Socialites (play the acronym game) is now in session. The first order of business is to rule on allowing fathers into the playgroup. Does anyone have anything they'd like to say on the matter?
Muffy #1: My husband would kill me if he found out I was talking to a man.
Buffy #1: If we let fathers into our playgroup, what's next? Different races? Different religious backgrounds? What will become of our moral fiber?
Muffy #2: There is no way I'm taking my kids up to the park and have some guy undress me with his eyes!
President: I think we've heard enough. Let's put it to a vote. All those in favor of allowing fathers into our playgroup, say aye.

[crickets chirping]

President: All those opposed, say nay.
Everyone: NAY!
President: The nays have it. No dads allowed.

Mr. SAH'D, I hope you start showing up with your child when the playgroup meets. Your kid could still play with the other children. The other children won't care if your kid came to the park with his daddy (gasp!). Just make sure you bring your iPod, because I doubt you'll be having any conversations with these women. Not that you'd want to anyway.

What do you think he should do?