The Evolution of the Ladies’ Night

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night outI’ve always hated the term “Mom’s Night Out,” but that’s what everyone calls it these days when a couple of moms get together. Before we had kids, it was just a Ladies’ Night, and it was so much simpler. Someone suggested getting together and in less than four text messages, a whole night was arranged. You got dressed, you packed your tiny purse, and headed out into the evening. Your only concerns were finding your bank’s ATM to avoid any withdrawal fees and what meetings you may need to finesse the next morning on too little sleep.  

But now…we’re Moms…and NOTHING is accomplished in less than four text messages. You leave the house with a backpack full of concerns, and fear the disaster that you will wake up to should you have one too many glasses of wine. As with all things after birth…it’s complicated. So to give you a little laugh today, here’s rundown of the evolution of my recent Mom’s Night Out with Fairfield County Moms Blog. 

January 19: I receive an invitation to a wine tasting at LQR MKT on February 28…yes, 6 weeks in advance, because that’s how moms operate. I immediately add it to my calendar and book the babysitter, being mindful to have her come over an hour and a half early so that I can have some time to enjoy getting ready, blow dry my hair and get changed. I don’t intend to arrive at my wine tasting wearing a ponytail and yoga pants. I’ve learned the hard way that having the sitter come at the same time I intend to leave the house will never work out in my favor.  

February 7: Receive reminder about the night out and immediately confirm the date and time with the babysitter…I’ve been burned before by booking a sitter too early and it falling off her radar! Never again! Consider me the Queen of Confirmation when it comes to babysitters.  

February 24: Receive a third reminder about the night out and giggle uncontrollably, because who needs a reminder about Ladies’ Night???

February 27: Inform husband that he will have to pay a babysitter when he gets home because you will be out! Huzzah!

February 28: It’s finally here! Wake up excited that I get a night off from the bedtime drill and the people who don’t want to stay in their beds when I’m home, but will stay in bed perfectly fine for the sitter.  

7:00am: Doing a lovely wet ponytail updo because I will have time to freshly blow dry my hair tonight! Yay!

8:30am: Start wondering about what to wear…how am I feeling today? A little bit bloated to be honest…

10:30am: Remember again that it’s a fun night out during the week and get all giddy for no reason.

12:30pm: Realize that the people (and the sitter) still need to be fed! I was planning to scarf down some leftovers before heading out, but the people will want food. Cross my fingers that we have some nuggets in the freezer. This sitter is going to think that my children only eat nuggets, because that’s what I serve every single time she’s over…

2:00pm: Should I take an Uber? It IS a wine tasting and I would like to take full advantage. 

3:00pm: Messages start coming in from the other Mom’s making me feel much better that I’m not the only one excitedly obsessing about the night’s plans.

5:30pm: Sitter has arrived! Oh, sorry little people, did I forget to tell you that she was coming?Whoopsie! Well here’s your nuggets, please excuse me to go blow dry my hair and dance around to non-toddler music in my room!

6:00pm: Pouring a small glass of wine to enjoy while getting ready and scheduling my Uber pick up.

6:40pm: Running late because the sitter pulled out the 6 year old’s loose tooth and there’s blood everywhere! It’s so gross! Apparently it was so loose that she didn’t put any effort into it, but I don’t do loose teeth so I don’t know. Give me your severed limb, but do NOT give me your tooth that just fell out.  

6:55pm: Leave the house wielding my ginormous Mom bag because, in all seriousness, unpacking what I need and putting it into a smaller purse is just way too much work and I’ve got places to be and Moms to meet.  

7:15pm: Yay! Time to talk to other adults! Let’s face it, we are all Moms and will most likely talk about our children, but it’s so fun to share stories and ask questions of other Moms. And, hey, the wine tasting!

7:45, 8:15 and 8:45pm: Casually check phone to be sure that no SOS calls have come in from the sitter. There is no such thing as a Mom going out for the night and not having a slight worry about someone throwing up, throwing a tantrum or an appliance exploding.

8:00pm: Post on Instagram so that everyone knows how much fun I am having on a Tuesday night. Because if you don’t put on Instagram, no one will know it happened.  

9:00pm: We are being kicked out by the employees who seem to want to go home to their families.  

9:30pm: Arrive home. Husband notes the box that I am carrying and dryly says, “I see that you brought home a case of wine.” My answer: “False. I brought home 6 bottles of wine because I know how to save 10%!”

9:31pm: Note the state of disarray in the kitchen. Heavily sigh and begin cleaning things up for the morning…loading dishwasher, pouring fresh milk cups, making lunches, gathering backpack materials, assessing the breakfast situation…back to the regular Mom work…

10:30pm: Contentedly go to bed after thoroughly enjoying a weeknight out with the ladies. Wonder how late I can push my alarm back in the morning to make up for the late bedtime….it’s a fairly certain guarantee that I sleep in and am a hot mess in the morning. But it was totally worth it and I can’t wait for another Ladies Night out soon!

February 19: Yup, totally slept in and am a glorious hot mess chasing after children and trying to get people to various places on time! Oh well!  

What is your favorite part about Ladies’ Night now that you’re a Mom?

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