Playdates....do you host them...

...and if so how often?

Feeling that I need to step up my game. I have a big back yard and I know I should just invite some kids over on my day off but I always back out and just take the kids out myself and have fun.

We do have playdates but its usually at the park or now in the summer at the beach.

Am I a slacker mom for not hosting playdates?

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

Not IMO. Ok, well my issue isn't that I don't host them, its just that I don't know many people to invite. That being said, I think that even if I did it would be hard for me to actually do. My backyard is consumed by a stupid inground, non-functional pool that we are awaiting the contractors availability to fill in. So, this summer we would most likely be at someone elses house or at the park. Again...I don't really know enough people, but even if I did.....I don't think you are a slacker. There are going to be plenty of opportunities when your LO are in school full time and are making friends.

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

I do host them. Not sure how often I belong to a meet up group and I try to host them occasionally. I have a pretty good backyard for playdates and even inside, I just limit the # of kids if its inside.

I love hosting and DS loves having his friends come to his house.

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

I try to host once a month or more. I have either one or two friends over at a time but since we all have two kids each it can vary between 4 to 6 children between the ages of 1-4. In general we go on 2-3 play dates a month. Between camp, school, activities and other stuff that is what our schedule permits.

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

I host playdates fairly often. I think it becomes less of a "thing" the more you do them. I don't really stress about them or over think them.

I enjoy having people over, and I like talking with other moms. I like family playdates too-where the moms and dads come over-DH is a chatter box and needs someone to talk to too

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

I host almost once a week. I love hosting and have the room and out of a lot of my friends I'm in the middle for everyone to travel. I do a huge gtg once a month and I invite about 42 moms and kids. It seems tho it rains everytime for the huge gtg:(

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

Before we moved I used to host at least once a week. Now that we moved and our house and yard are under never-ending renovations, I rarely host. I do enjoy hosting so hopefully next year the house will be ready.

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

I don't see myself as ever hosting one.
I am such a loner- I like to be alone with DD and/or DH or just my immediate family.
I'm not big on talking to other mom's or other women for that matter!
I've just always been like that. Maybe it's social anxiety.
I'd just rather spend my limited free time doing my own thing.

I figure she gets plenty of social interaction with other kids at daycare so I don't feel so bad...

Message edited 7/14/2011 9:46:10 AM.

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

I host them occasionally, but my living room is on the small side and our backyard isn't "finished" so I tend to hope that other people host instead of me I would say I have friends over maybe 3 times a year?

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

no! I own a townhouse and I live in an area where people have more sq feet in their homes then I could ever imagine a family needing.

I don't have a playroom...most homes we go to have 2.
I will have a moms night at my house...but kids? never.

I do host playdates at my community pool

Re: Playdates....do you host them...

Yes - In the summer, I average about once every other week or more. For me, I find it easier then always going somewhere and the moms seem to enjoy coming over.