…With ease.
Before giving birth, I was excited for all the possibilities of life with a child. All the things we’d do together… strolling through the mall with a little bundle of joy – with perfect make-up, no hair out of place, and dressed fashionably, of course – playing at the park, joining play groups for us both to be acquainted with new friends having the same interests, and even hosting an in-home play date.
The perfectly coiffed women with kids in tow at the mall, rushing through the market, and eating a family dinner in a restaurant assured me how perfectly easy it would all be.
After giving birth? I cussed those women. Because I was a slight hot mess. Nothing remotely near to perfectly coiffed, er, showering was a challenge and forget dressing in anything that didn’t accommodate whipping out the boob.
I could barely find time to pull myself together between nursings, remember to pack all the essentials, and make it out of the house on time – which earned me the reputation of Queen of lateness. Hosting a play date was the last thing on my to-do list.
As time passed, I became a little more skilled at making it look easier. Actually, it did get easier as she grew and I became more comfortable… and wrote my own rules.
In the first year of Lovebug’s life, we made it to the park, activities, and play group outings. I didn’t ever get to host a playdate, though.
This new year, I decided to make it a goal to host a monthly, in-home play group. And you know what? Our very first playdate wasn’t as hard as I’d thought it would be.
I felt like one of those perfectly coiffed women making juggling multitasking look easy – though I don’t know how perfectly coiffed I was. Comfortable and functional for hosting a play group? Yes!
OUTFIT DEETS
Me- sweater: Nordstrom, T-shirt: Kohls, skinnies: F21, moccasins: Target. Lovebug- shirt and pant set: DKNY
I had a few tricks up my sleeve to help me pull it off. And of course, I have things a little more together these days.
But if you’re thinking of opening your home to half a dozen or so moms and kids, here’s 3 easy tips:
1. Keep snacks simple and have everything done before everyone arrives.
I sliced oranges and apples, rinsed blueberries and had them spread on the table for easy serving. Water was on the stove for quick boiling for tea, fresh coffee was brewed and ready to serve, and I set out an ice bucket and cups for easy access.
2. Confine the kids to a few rooms or areas.
With a one story house, and a good layout, that wasn’t too much of a problem. If you have multiple stories, closing off doors, and giving a quick tour of the areas that are accessible once everyone arrives, should help to set the boundaries.
3. Set a date and definite start and end time; keeping to about an hour or an hour and half, but no longer than a couple hours.
Happy Play grouping!
Haven Street Style Studio 