Visit www.DRPGonline.com to learn more, check out our events calendar and to become a member online.
The Desert Ridge® Parents’ Group (DRPG) is a fun-filled organization for parents and children in the North phoenix area. All families in the Desert Ridge® community are invited to check out our activities and events! Founded in 1997, the not-for-profit Desert Ridge® Parents’ Group (DRPG) hosts weekly playgroups, monthly kids’ and family activities, seasonal events and parents-only nights for residents in desert Ridge and surrounding areas. Membership dues are only $30 per year.
By Katie Johnson
Moving to a new area is a super-exciting time. Well… exciting and maybe a bit daunting: there’s the new house to settle in to, new preschools to find, new neighborhoods to navigate and whole new set of friends to find. Frankly it can be super-stressful.
Now imagine moving half way across the world from where you’ve lived your whole life. It’s not only a new neighborhood you’re moving into, but also a new country…with different food, different schooling, different holidays and a whole different climate to wrap your head around.
When we moved to the Desert Ridge area from a beachside suburb of Sydney, Australia in 2010 I hit the ground running. With three kids under five years of age, my husband starting work in his new office shortly after deboarding the plane, and my knowledge of Phoenix amounting to “the place Twilight’s Bella leaves before meeting her sparkly vampire”, I knew I had my work cut out for me. My tightknit Australian mothers group had always been there for me through the ups and downs since having my first child, so my first thought was to find a parents group in my new home…FAST. I vividly remember googling “Desert Ridge Mom’s Groups” back in Sydney before we relocated and finding the DRPG newsletter online. I eagerly emailed the then-president to find out more and was welcomed with open (cyber) arms and a list of activities and playdates we could participate in, as much or as little as we wanted to be involved. When we arrived in Phoenix it’s true to say that practically the first thing I did was to take my family to DRPG’s “Bagels and Brew” annual morning meet and greet event at Cashman Park. It was exactly the right way to begin a new life in a new place and we felt instantly connected to the community. Everyone was friendly and they had kids around the same age as us (and the same joys and dramas that brings with it). We were from a different part of the world but we fit right in with this friendly bunch of parents, all muddling through the joys of teething and crawling; finding the right babysitter and preschool; and of course sharing tips on taming tantrums.
It’s been two years since we started to call Phoenix our home. Since then I am happy to say that myself and my family have celebrated birthdays with our friends from DRPG, dropped in on countless playgroups, made many kids crafts, gone on field trips and been to lots of Mom’s and Dad’s nights out (essential for any parents’ sanity!). I have been able to ask advice (best doctor?; best $1 store?) and ask silly questions (“what should my kids wear for Halloween?”; what do I do with the kids when it’s 118º outside?!?”) – thankfully without ever being made to feel silly. We’ve even been lucky enough to have meals delivered to our family by DRPG when I have been recovering from an operation (and we’ve been able to reciprocate when others have been in need). The Parents Group has been a godsend.
DRPG has events for everyone with kids of any age, and you can do as much or as little as you choose. Aside from catching up at a weekly play group and splash pads in Summer, DRPG’s fabulous Bigtent site is a simple and convenient place which allows members to talk, plan and see the group’s events all at the click of a button. It’s all about taking that first leap of faith to reach out and make a connection in the community. Trust me, you won’t regret it. We’ve never looked back!
Our Upcoming Events
Mom & Dad’s Holiday Night Out in December
Spring Meet & Greet in January
The Annual Chili Cook-off in February
Playgroups at a Glance
Baby Playgroup Meets Tuesday Mornings
New Walkers (one-year-olds) Meets Tuesday & Wednesday Mornings
Two & Three-year-olds Meets Wednesday Mornings
All Ages Meet at the ParkAfter School
