The Little Viking Saga – Episode 2

In pursuit of play

Moving to a completely new place often means leaving behind your village and a network you’ve spent years building. This was something that I thought about a lot before we moved to Copenhagen – how would I meet new people? The answer, I was soon to discover, was staring me right in the face, with big blue eyes and a bit of peanut butter on his lips; My almost 2-year-old son.

We spent our first few months constantly at the local park, rain or shine (mostly rain, cold rain). Slowly branching out to discover new playgrounds and areas for kids. Because where there are kids, there are also parents. Fighting the same good fight that we all are, deep in the trenches of parenthood. And at the very least, if I wasn’t able to forge new connections, I was speaking with other adults and feeling less isolated in our new life.

The best time of day was post-pickup, where the parks would flood with kids, until the clock strikes 5 and everyone promptly heads home for dinner (it’s startlingly swift!). This tactic paid off, and I started to recognize familiar faces in an unfamiliar land. Offering a tiny sense of comfort and belonging. Each interaction shored up my confidence and willingness to continue putting myself out there. I would watch my son toddle off to play with a child he had never met before, thinking if he can do this…so can I. His pursuit of play also gave me an opening to chat with fellow parents. My toddler wingman of sorts.

I would listen to other parents speaking in Danish and wonder what they were saying. I’d wonder if they were old friends from school, or new friends from a parent group. Occasionally my ears would capture a bit of native English and locate a fellow foreigner. Another time we ran into a Spanish speaking family, who kindly spoke English with us (sadly my high school Spanish leaves much to be desired!). The amazing thing in this mix was the kids played together without any barriers. It didn’t matter if they couldn’t speak the same language, play was play. Intuitive and fun. As spring sprang and the sun appeared, the playparks filled with life.

With the start of vuggestue, I found myself surrounded by more families and opportunities for connection. The first parent participation day was a welcome chance to branch out (yet again) and show other parents that we were serious about our life here and keen to learn the ways of the Dane. The majority were incredibly welcoming and eager to learn our story. Folding us into their lives, rather seamlessly. Offering tips, tricks and words of encouragement.

Not long after, one day at pick up, I had a fellow Mom ask me if I’d like to get together. That invitation has blossomed into a very sweet friendship for both of us and our children. I’ve made friends through our park interactions with a mixture of locals and foreigners. I’ve connected with parent groups on Facebook, joined a dinner club and made friends through my language classes. What began with a massive language barrier and no connections, has evolved into a wonderful life filled with kind, genuine friends and a deeper understanding of the language. Driven by humble curiosity and a desire to build connections, it’s all been made possible by the fearless confidence of a toddler who simply wants to play.