Comments on: Mom’s Night Out – are we doing it wrong? http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/ Two geeky girls' guide to the first years of motherhood. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:57:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Magaroni http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109075 Magaroni Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:59:59 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109075 I am part of a moms group in which we do monthly spa nights. A mom hosts it at her house and the rest of the moms come kid free. Usually we start at 8 pm so the host mom can get her kids in bed first and then we serve wine and snacks, instead of eating a full dinner. We do natural facials, pedicures/foot massages, vision boards...whatever sparks our interest for that particular night. We usually have 8-10 moms at each and that is perfect. At the last one, one mom who was a massage therapist before her daughter was born, brought her massage chair and gave us each 10 minutes! Although it is not a "night off" so much, it is a pampering, fun, relaxing, hilarious and the best part- FREE night. I love it. It keeps me sane :) I am part of a moms group in which we do monthly spa nights. A mom hosts it at her house and the rest of the moms come kid free. Usually we start at 8 pm so the host mom can get her kids in bed first and then we serve wine and snacks, instead of eating a full dinner. We do natural facials, pedicures/foot massages, vision boards…whatever sparks our interest for that particular night. We usually have 8-10 moms at each and that is perfect. At the last one, one mom who was a massage therapist before her daughter was born, brought her massage chair and gave us each 10 minutes!

Although it is not a “night off” so much, it is a pampering, fun, relaxing, hilarious and the best part- FREE night. I love it. It keeps me sane :)

]]> By: Start a rookie-mom meetup — Rookie Moms http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109076 Start a rookie-mom meetup — Rookie Moms Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:04:32 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109076 [...] Sometimes it can be hard to be a ringleader for a group of sleep-deprived and busy women trying to keep to nap schedules. We’ve both tried it. For years. With mixed levels of success. [...] [...] Sometimes it can be hard to be a ringleader for a group of sleep-deprived and busy women trying to keep to nap schedules. We’ve both tried it. For years. With mixed levels of success. [...]

]]> By: Laura http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109069 Laura Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:10:37 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109069 I am involved in a very very large mom's group, so this is a little different since we have a large pool of women and some always come. But I've never heard anyone complain about our 7:30pm time. Sometimes women show up a little late, but there's no issue at all. No one's ever come on our forum to say that they can't make it because of the time. I guess if I'm going to suggest something, it's finding a mom's group like mine. I'm a part of The Mommies Network, Union Co Mommies to be specific. Is there one or something similar near you? It's been a life saver for me because of the online presence, so even if you can't get out, you still can be a part of a Mommy's group. I am involved in a very very large mom’s group, so this is a little different since we have a large pool of women and some always come. But I’ve never heard anyone complain about our 7:30pm time. Sometimes women show up a little late, but there’s no issue at all. No one’s ever come on our forum to say that they can’t make it because of the time. I guess if I’m going to suggest something, it’s finding a mom’s group like mine. I’m a part of The Mommies Network, Union Co Mommies to be specific. Is there one or something similar near you? It’s been a life saver for me because of the online presence, so even if you can’t get out, you still can be a part of a Mommy’s group.

]]> By: RookieMom Heather http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109070 RookieMom Heather Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:22:15 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109070 Sister, I hear you but I'm also sad for ME in reading your dilemma. You and your posse have consistently have better turnout than my pathetic attempts at an MNO. Maybe if I'm really nice, your group can adopt me? My Qualifications: husband gets home at 6, can meet whenever, I'm generally nice, can't hold much liquor, and like to plan Julie McCoy style for anyone who will let me. Disadvantages: I don't have an October 04 baby and Thursday is *his* night out. Sister, I hear you but I’m also sad for ME in reading your dilemma. You and your posse have consistently have better turnout than my pathetic attempts at an MNO. Maybe if I’m really nice, your group can adopt me?

My Qualifications: husband gets home at 6, can meet whenever, I’m generally nice, can’t hold much liquor, and like to plan Julie McCoy style for anyone who will let me.

Disadvantages: I don’t have an October 04 baby and Thursday is *his* night out.

]]> By: Marketing Mommy http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109072 Marketing Mommy Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:58:51 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109072 We go out about once every two months and usually meet at 7 or 7:30--late enough that newborns can be nursed down but early enough that we don't have to put our older kids to bed. Regardless of how much childcare I do or don't get out of, I still LOVE those MNOs. We go out about once every two months and usually meet at 7 or 7:30–late enough that newborns can be nursed down but early enough that we don’t have to put our older kids to bed.

Regardless of how much childcare I do or don’t get out of, I still LOVE those MNOs.

]]> By: minnie http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109074 minnie Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:40:01 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109074 my group does a mm's night out once a month and we meet around 7:30 as well. traffic sucks in the bay area and people have crappy commutes i think. i would totally prefer to meet at like 6 but my husband has a flexible schedule and so do i. it is really nice to get out with the moms at night sans babies. that way we can totally tyalk about the babies or not and at least we do not have to wrangle them. my group does a mm’s night out once a month and we meet around 7:30 as well. traffic sucks in the bay area and people have crappy commutes i think. i would totally prefer to meet at like 6 but my husband has a flexible schedule and so do i.
it is really nice to get out with the moms at night sans babies. that way we can totally tyalk about the babies or not and at least we do not have to wrangle them.

]]> By: Eliza http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109073 Eliza Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:41:46 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109073 My friends and I have done an official GNO just once, although I've tried to do more informal ones in the past. It was a Friday night and my husband (along with many husbands) never gets home before 7 or 7:30 during the week, so it was hard to get there very early. This month we are doing Saturday at my suggestion, and I am really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be earlier, like 5:30ish; it's easy for several of us because we just have 1 toddler each--everyone's weaned and the kids are a little more independent. It might be harder for those with new babies. But I think once I have more babies I'd rather continue to do it earlier and let my husband deal with the bottles (or refusal thereof). One thing that has been helpful for me, that makes it easier to leave, is that I "let" ;) my husband do all the bedtime routines on the weekend, and also during the week if he is home in time. From the time my son was 2 months old until he was about 10 months I worked 2 nights a week, so this evolved naturally, since he had to pick him up from the babysitter, feed him, bathe, put to bed, etc. I definitely recommend it though; I feel like my husband is a lot more confident with the baby's routines (both night and day) than he would have been otherwise. I'm sure it will get harder as we have more kids. My friends and I have done an official GNO just once, although I’ve tried to do more informal ones in the past. It was a Friday night and my husband (along with many husbands) never gets home before 7 or 7:30 during the week, so it was hard to get there very early. This month we are doing Saturday at my suggestion, and I am really looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be earlier, like 5:30ish; it’s easy for several of us because we just have 1 toddler each–everyone’s weaned and the kids are a little more independent. It might be harder for those with new babies. But I think once I have more babies I’d rather continue to do it earlier and let my husband deal with the bottles (or refusal thereof).

One thing that has been helpful for me, that makes it easier to leave, is that I “let” ;) my husband do all the bedtime routines on the weekend, and also during the week if he is home in time. From the time my son was 2 months old until he was about 10 months I worked 2 nights a week, so this evolved naturally, since he had to pick him up from the babysitter, feed him, bathe, put to bed, etc. I definitely recommend it though; I feel like my husband is a lot more confident with the baby’s routines (both night and day) than he would have been otherwise. I’m sure it will get harder as we have more kids.

]]> By: Mandy http://www.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-109071 Mandy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:09:16 +0000 http://blog.rookiemoms.com/moms-night-out-are-we-doing-it-wrong/#comment-109071 We've gone out as a group several times over the last 6 months or so, but have the same issue with the timing. We started at 7:30, but people drifted in when and as the kids finally went down--sometimes not until almost 9. I don't have any suggestions, because we're pretty much in the same boat. As for it being a night free of childcare/dinner duties... I have to admit I am a bit alpha when it comes to getting things set and organized, and I always kinda feel like the fella wouldn't get things together without me. He'd be fine, I am sure, but he tends to let me know at the last minute that he's uncertain with how things (like bathing the kid on his own) will get done. Not sure this is helping, but maybe I just wrote this to let you know you're not alone. We’ve gone out as a group several times over the last 6 months or so, but have the same issue with the timing. We started at 7:30, but people drifted in when and as the kids finally went down–sometimes not until almost 9. I don’t have any suggestions, because we’re pretty much in the same boat. As for it being a night free of childcare/dinner duties… I have to admit I am a bit alpha when it comes to getting things set and organized, and I always kinda feel like the fella wouldn’t get things together without me. He’d be fine, I am sure, but he tends to let me know at the last minute that he’s uncertain with how things (like bathing the kid on his own) will get done. Not sure this is helping, but maybe I just wrote this to let you know you’re not alone.

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