the [play]dating game

I scored some digits at the park yesterday.  I have to admit, it made me pretty happy.  Unfortunately, she gave me her number because she didn't have her phone so who knows if I'll ever work up the nerve to give her a call to schedule a playdate.  And how would that conversation even go, anyway?  

'Hi Colleen, this is Julie.  You know, the girl from the park.  My kid had a tantrum because your kid took the open swing...  Well, ummm, I ummm... was wondering if you'd maybe want to get together for a ummm... playdate sometime?  If you don't have anything better to do.  No pressure...'

Since when did being a Mom start to so closely resemble awkward teenage dating life?  Or that notoriously painful scene from the movie 'Swingers' when Mikey's calling the girl he just met?

Being a say-at-home-mom, I feel that it's absolutely necessary to have relationships with other women who are in a similar situation, which means let the play-dating games begin!.  The benefits are endless.  Some that come to mind:

~ It's good for my kids.  I don't want my kids to be isolated at home with me all day every day.  Being social with other kids is essential.  I can tell that Andrew takes after me and can be pretty inhibited so it's good for him to be around other kids and learn to play and interact. 

~ It gives me someone over the age of 2 to converse with.  Don't get me wrong, Andrew and I have some pretty stimulating conversations, but mostly about colors or trucks.  By the time Jim gets home from work and we get through dinner and bedtime, my brain has pretty much shut down so I don't have a lot of daily adult conversation.

~ It keeps us busy.  We try to get out of the house at least once everyday... even if it's just time in the backyard, or a trip to Chik-fil-A for lunch.  It's so important for us to get out.  Otherwise, cabin fever starts to threaten us.  Playdates are a great way to break up the day!

~ It allows me to commiserate/relate with someone else.  Aside from my husband, who else can I talk to about sleeping habits (or lack there of), feeding schedules, what to make for dinner and mom jeans?

~ If we're being honest here, it allows me to avoid house work for another day.  :-) Dusting can wait.  The laundry can wait.  The dishes can wait.  Fun for me and the kids can't wait.  Priorities.

~ It preserves my identity aside from just being 'Mommy.' It can be easy to get lost in the identity of Mom and forget about 'Julie' who likes chocolate, shoes, cooking and the beach.  It's nice to talk about me and learn about someone else sometimes and not focus solely on the kids.  Any opportunity to be around other women is an opportunity to build a friendship.

Fortunately, all of these reasons make the whole play-dating game completely worth it... which may just inspire me to 'make the next move.'  I've been hesitating publishing this post for fear of looking silly or sharing too much, but then I remembered the reason I started this ridiculous blog in the first place - to share some of those 'only a Mom can relate to this' moments and hope that other women are reading this and nodding their heads and maybe even giving me an 'Amen!'  I suppose that eventually you just have to put yourself out there.