What is it about "Play Dates" that make me cringe? Why can't I embrace them like so many other moms do?
I know part of my current problem is that I work full time, and after finally leaving the office for the day, the very last thing I want is for extra kids to come home with me. Heck, I have a hard time taking my OWN kids home with me.And yet, no matter how much I whine about it, I'm continually bombarded by my girls who insist on begging for play dates with their friends.
Now sometimes the girls are invited to go to their friend's houses after school, and THAT works out pretty well, since they'd normally have to hang out for an hour anyway. This way, when I'm ready to leave, I just swing by the PDL (play date location), collect my offspring and head home. It's almost like it never even happened.
EXCEPT for the fact that that it DID happen and NOW I OWE THAT MOM A PLAY DATE AT MY HOUSE!!
Even if the mom doesn't expect a play date at my house in return, I walk around under this cloud of guilt. I mean, how many times can I, in good conscience, send my daughters off with other mothers, knowing that even the thought of reciprocating sends my blood pressure into orbit?!
I know some of you out there absolutely love having your house be THE house that all the kids want to hang out at, and I can see, sort of, why that would be appealing. Okay, no I can't. You people are psycho. But here's the deal ... God didn't give me the gift of hospitality. I wish He had, but just ask my husband ... nothing stresses me out more than having people over.
So why am I confessing all of this? I guess so that all of you who've never been invited over to my home will gain some kind of understanding, and that those of you who have been invited over will feel extra blessed! Or something like that.
Could have written this post. I sooooo feel what you're saying. I have one mom that asks me every single week when we are doing a playdate this week. She has something planned every day for her daughter (an only child) and so she wants to set up a regularly planned play date every week during the school year. Uh, no. And nothing bugs me more when my daughter and her friends bombard me with their plans and ask me for a play date that day. I hate spontaneous play dates.
ReplyDeleteSo what I'm trying to say is that I will stand by you. I get it. If we lived closer and you never invited my daughter over, I wouldn't even blink a tear.
Tracey ~ I wish we lived closer if for no other reason than so that our girls would never have play dates at my house. ;)
DeleteI'm 100% with you on this one! Can't stand play dates. I have them because my son is an only child and yes, he does need to have planned times or he would never get any play time with other kids. Playing with me is fun, but mom's got things to do! I am hoping that now that he is going into Kindergarten, he will get his fill of social time there at school. And then once he's in school all day, every day (1st grade) we won't have time for play dates. Oh darn! (snicker, snicker...)
ReplyDelete(And yes, I read your blog all the time, but am bad and never comment. But I love this post!)
Andrea ~ I'm so excited for you!! Once school starts, you're good as gold! (Assuming you can avoid all the other moms who want play dates, that is!!)
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