Southern Girl in the UK

Hi,

My family and I moved to the UK almost 4 months ago from Memphis, TN. We were ready to settle in around Leamington Spa in the Midlands, when my husband was offered a job in Guiseley outside of Leeds. So we up and moved to the Leeds area about a month ago. We absolutely LOVE it up here.

We have two small children: Maddison who will be 4 in January and Emily who is 14 months old. Maddison has been having a hard time with the move all together. It really depends on the day with her. I am trying to get into the community and meet people, but I am finding it hard getting into the circles. Maddison really needs to have a friend. Right now, she doesn't have really any friends. And she knows it. We only have one car, so while husband is at work the girls and I are go places either our feet will take us or perharps get a cab once or twice a week for a playgroup.

Have any of you moved with small children? Or have any advice on getting into the community and making friends with the mums around the village? Thanks so much!! Any help is much appreciated!!

Courtney

Hi and welcome to UKY! I'm not in the north, nor do I have children, but there are quite a few people on here from the Leeds area who will hopefully be along.

Welcome!      I'm in north Leeds, but not a parent...sometimes meetups can be arranged in the meet up board of UKY. We're a generally friendly bunch here in Yorkshire and we sometimes meet up formally or informally!   

Just a few ideas, if you haven't thought of them already:

Have you joined http://www.netmums.com/

or contacted

www.thefamilyhubleeds.org

The local council and library should also have activities listed:

www.leeds.gov.uk

Or you could join http://www.meetup.com/

Maybe you could volunteer at a local children's group:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Gettinginvolvedinyourcommunity/Volunteering/index.htm

Hope that helps! 

Hello and Welcome!
   I have a 7 yr old but am in the North West (liverpool) A bit far if your walking!
 Luckily my fiancé's family has lots of kids for my little guy to play with, otherwise I know what you mean by not having too many friends. It's one of the few things I really miss about the US.  I have found that the British are extremely friendly and I am sure you will have more friends than you or your children will know what to do with. Good Luck!
x x

You know I had more luck sort of finding other immigrant families to align with. My daughter is ten now but was 5 when we came over. I never have been able to break through the mum mafia at my daughter's school or at the play ground. They can be a trying. They remind me a bit of a BBC documentary about a pack of mother elephants circling around the young and bellowing at any intruder.  We just snarl at one another now....

But I found a nice family from Hong Kong with a daughter in my daughter's class and they get along well.

Work the niches...talk to the Polish family standing off in a corner....great people really, facing the same sorts of issues - if not more so...

Hello! Just moving to Leeds myself, although no children... however I'm a friendly American listener

Welcome to UKY 

Another Southerner here! Don't have children but just saying hello!