This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
This last week I had a Mommy Play Date (kids came too of course!!) at the park. I was talking to a friend about it after, and she made the comment that I “sure seem to be having a lot of ‘me time’ lately”. She asked how I managed to do it, and why I did it so often. At first I was slightly caught off guard and started to take offense to it, before I realized she was asking HOW SHE COULD DO IT TOO! She realized that not only was I so much happier lately, but my whole family was too.
When Mom’s HAPPY everyone’s HAPPY right?!
I started to tell her how I have prioritized my time since the kids have been out of school. You see, we used to start the day being lazy and watching TV til usually someone came and knocked on the door to see if the kids could play. Then we would start picking up the house, doing chores and cleaning up ourselves for the day. I quickly realized that although the mornings were relaxing, I spent the rest of the day playing catch up and stressing about all the things I had to get done and there was no time for fun. I was wasting those precious morning hours in exchange for a headache the rest of the time. It also didn’t take me long to realize that I wouldn’t die without spending the whole Summer sleeping in.
“…I wouldn’t die without spending the whole Summer sleeping in.”
So what HAVE we been doing?
I started getting up at my normal year round time. I immediately start doing any pickup that was forgotten the night before and straight away start on the daily chores (see my 10 minute chore chart here) until the kids wake up. I then make a hot breakfast (something we got away from but we all missed)
The kids then start on their chores while I pick up breakfast dishes and before we know it, all household work is done for the day. It doesn’t take much because with the warm weather outside, we are spending 99.9% of our waking time outside and the house doesn’t get near as messy during the day.
Once housework is done, the kids have some school work to do that I have picked out for them to complete this Summer. We all sit down at the table and do the work together. Some days it surprises me how much I have forgot since school…..sometimes my 5 year old is more book smart than I am!
After the work is done, we are free to do whatever we want with the rest of our day. We have so much fun playing on the swings in the backyard, riding bikes around the neighborhood and playing dolls under the tree. But I can attest that there’s only so much time one mom can spend talking to 10ish kids (neighbor ones included…not just mine!) 6 and under!
So I plan and attend play dates with some of my best friends. Yes, we got lucky and I am friends with ladies that have kids the same age as mine. So we can claim we are getting out for the kids’ sake, but in all reality we are doing it for our own sanity!!
“…but in all reality we are doing it for our own sanity!!”
So what kinds of Mommy Play Dates do we have?
Mini Golfing: It’s amazing the differences between mini golfing on a date and mini golfing with little ones. Pretty much all rules go out the window and it’s all about fun and sometimes a little safety (says the Mom who’s got a fear of golf clubs).
Swimming: It’s something to entertain the kids for HOURS while we can work on our tan, and most of all, socialize.
Splash Pad: This one gives us Moms even more of a break because there’s no fear of drowning involved like at the swimming pool. There’s a lot more chitty and chatting involved in this playdate!
Hiking: As long as the kids are contained into a small area (one or two moms in front, one or two moms in back) hiking can be one of the best activities to do with friends. Not to mention that everyone comes back exhausted and ready for the best nights sleep of the Summer.
A day at the Park: pack up a few fun games and toys, and you’re set for a long afternoon of lounging under a tree. Oh wait, that’s wishful thinking. You’re actually gonna be showing the kids what’s up in the hole hoop contest, kicking some trash in bocce ball, swinging the rope so 3 kids can jumprope at the same time. But seriously, is there anything better than a playdate where everyone gets involved?
Quaker® Chewy® Granola Bars sponsored our latest play date at the park and it was just what all of us Mommy’s needed. We took the bubble machine, sidewalk chalk and a picnic lunch to the park for a few hours of Mommy chat time. Along with lunch, I brought along a few boxes of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars that we could guilt free to share with the kids to fuel their energy, and ours, while at the park. It was the perfect snack for the kids to run around with while playing. Did you know that each bar has 8 grams of whole grains in it? Quaker wants to inspire families to keep playing together. And to fuel the fun they are giving one lucky OTI reader the same playdate package they sent to me. Playdate Package includes:
- A Chewy Playdate invitation pack to plan your next playdate
- A classic Bocce Ball set for endless hours of outdoor summer play
- A Gazillion Bubble Monsoon bubble machine for the whole family to enjoy
- Sidewalk chalk set to get creative outdoors
- A puzzle perfect for indoor or outdoor play
- A red storage bin for storing your family’s favorite toys
- A NERF Bash Ball for easy family fun
- A variety of Chewy Granola Bars to help fuel family play, including, Big Chewy Sweet & Salty Bars and Chewy Granola Bars Variety Pack
Total giveaway value is approximately $100
Quaker is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Quaker or its affiliates, but solely by Our Thrifty Ideas.
To help inspire families’ playtime together and fuel fun, Quaker is inviting parents to participate in its Keep Playing! With Chewy promotion for a chance to win $25,000 to make over their family’s play space. To enter, visit www.ChewyKeepPlaying.com and submit a photo of your family’s favorite play space along with how you would like to see that space made over and why.
My favorite Mommy play date is playing bingo with my daughter.
We have a great network of trails in our area, so we always go on family bike rides. Otherwise, we generally just watch the kids play.
I like to have a coffee date while watching our kids play.
Going to the ice cream shop could be a good play date!
We like going hiking and the park
I love going to parks, or having my mom friends bring their kids to my house and play out back while we chat!
Ps…it was fun to meet you tonight ( I’m Mandy’s sister) I will have to read your great blog more often! II know I have seen your name on Facebook blogger stuff, it’s fun to meet more southern Utah bloggers!