I’ll admit it. I’m lazy. I used to blame it on having three children, especially when getting twin infants in and out of the car was a pain (it’s not anymore), but I think I’m actually lazy. I prefer to stay home rather than packing up a bag with three changes of clothes, sippy cups, snacks, etc. I’d rather you just come to me. That’s why playdates work for me.
Who can you invite to a playdate? Anyone! A neighbor, a student from your child’s preschool class, a family you’ve met at church or through a common bond.
What do you need for a playdate? Not much–a parking space, a little floor space for the kids to play, and a relatively clean house. One of the reasons I like playdates is because they force me to vacuum and tidy up a bit, but you don’t have to go overboard.
What happens if you don’t like the other mom? Oh, gosh, this has happened to me so many times. When we moved here to NoVA, I invited lots of moms and kids over to see who we would “click” with. I do feel bad when my kids like their kids but I don’t click with the mom. But there are more moms and kids out there to be friends with, and we’ve done just fine.
Are you shy? Living somewhere new? Just speak up! You know how your child can go up to someone at the park and “make friends” all of a sudden? Take their lead and ask someone over. You never know–maybe you’ll hit it off!
For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, go to We Are That Family.
Playdates are awesome for a nice break in the daily routine and they often leave me in a better mood.