As school gears up, I find myself scheduling more and more playdates (a word I’ve only just come to terms with…it sounds so Real Housewives) and I’ve discovered that for a successful playdate (one in which you do not stick your face in a case of Grey Goose afterwards), one’s home must be prepared.
I’m not sure what this means exactly, I just know that my house is not playdate-ready yet, as evidenced by the blobby blobs of things I found adhered to my light carpet and the sticky stick things I found gobbed in my toilet. I think maybe that having one’s home playdate-ready means locking yourself in the bathroom and pouring bleach into your eyes.
I used to be a slob, I swear I did, so I don’t know why now I can’t abide errant poo smears and Oreo crumbs. A little part of me dies inside every time an Otter Pop explodes on the floor or dirty feet track snail on the tile. For me, having a playdate means giving yourself completely over to the fact that your home will never ever, no not ever, be the same. And that’s OK. See, I’m just learning this stuff and soon it will be old hat. I’ve already surrendered myself to clutter, glitter, and peanut butter, so it’s just a matter of time before I succumb to “playdate house,” but I thought maybe I could do a couple of things to better prepare my home for having kids and moms over 3-4 times a week.
Some of those things might include:
- More plastic furniture.
- Stainless steel floors with a non-stick surface.
- A wine closet.
- A hyperbaric snack chamber.
- New ears.
- A blood transfusion.
- A panic room.
I’m completely serious about 4 out of those 7 things.
But in all seriousity, I think what I really need is a comfortable place for us moms to sit and talk about husbands, food, teachers, Botox, sex, ADD, Costco scores, neighbors, middle age, doctors, Obama, cruises, sushi, and House, while the children cyclone around us.
Cuz what I’m learning most of all? The kids are happiest when mom is relaxed. And THAT is the ultimate getting-your-house-playdate-ready tip.
Nothing wrong with bleach and wine though.
Just a thought – why not meet up for playdates at the park?
Then all you have to get ready is a picnic basket and your house will remain clean and orderly.
I wish I had been this smart when my kids had playdates.
Playdate checklist:
1. Vodka
2. Triple Sec
3. Cranberry juice
4. Lime
5. Duct tape (for kids’ bedroom door, not kids)
Otter pops are sheer evil. Those little bits of plastic drag themselves out of the trash and drape themselves on the floor when nobody is looking.
Go to the park. But pick one with a bathroom. Nothing says “playdate over” like a soggy bottom. And it’s even worse when the kids wet themselves.
You’re so right about the relaxed mom makes relaxed kid thing. And the good thing about being the one to host playdates is that they’ll keep bringing their friends by as they get older. And you want that, because then you know where they are.
Which is why the best play dates are OUTSIDE with vodka;) You crack me up! What is an otter pop?
@GGIW Otter Pops are frozen sugar water. They come in a box of 5000 and the tops need to be cut off so kids can eat them. They are evil.
I’m a horrible playdate host. I’m constantly after the kids to keep their hands off the walls and I go behind them with a broom and dustpan.
You, however, are an excellent playdate guest because you make killer strawberry margaritas. I thin you need to be at all my playdates to keep the margaritas flowing. Then I won’t care about the walls and floors.
Seriously? 3-4x per week? Holy cow, I am failing miserably!
For us it’s having a fenced yard. You can only keep kids in the basement for so long. And well, if us Mom’s get to gabbing we may not catch them sneaking onto the street with oncoming traffic.
I could also use a few things on your list.
Omigosh, I was JUST thinking about this today. There’s a little girl at MP’s school who wines “Can I come over to MP’s house today?” EVERY time I pick MP up. She’s BEEN to our house. Once. And she DESTROYED it.
Today, her dad asked if it would be okay if she came over for a playdate sometime because she’s been asking about it constantly.
I of course said cheerfully, “Sure! Anytime! Just let me know!”
Ugh.
showerheads that lower from the livingroom ceiling…easy clean-up or weird fun.
Love this post, Deb!!! Now try balancing the needs of two ten year olds against a very grouchy/hyper/crazy four year old. Life has never been the same.