Family Giveaway Living parties

How to Have a Playdate and get some alone time without leaving the house

I just want to be alone is a phrase many moms (including myself) find themselves desperately crying at the end of a LONG week with their kiddos. It seems that even when daddy is home there is still incessant crying out for mommy mommy mommy – gotta go ask mommy’s opinion – only mommy can help with this – mommy mommy mommy – where are you mommy – what are you doing mommy – why is the door locked mommy – mommy mommy MOMMY!!! – I just want to be SO CLOSE TO YOU!

Sigh.

It’s adorable and amazing – and I’m sure I will miss my kids needing to be at my side 24-7, BUT mama needs a break sometimes. The hard part is that when I have slivers of time 100% to myself I am always torn on what to do because as much as I crave alone time, I also crave social time with good friends and conversation about things other than garbage trucks and superheroes.  Not to mention when I do have time to myself I often wish I could just stay at home and chill but kicking my husband the two kiddos out for several hours is often not an option (especially when alone time often is only realistic at night/bed/bath/dinner time.) So, this weekend I was inspired by the movie SING to take back the playdate and find a way get some in-home alone time.

Here’s how I did it…

I invited three of my son’s preschool buddies over with their moms for a movie playdate.  We spent the morning cleaning (which my son gladly helped with because he gets super excited having people over). Instead of treating it like a kids playdate I treated it like I was hosting a mom’s night (during the day).  I got some wine and snacks. The typical party fare – chips and salsa, cheese and crackers, veggies and hummus.  And some mini pizzas for the kiddos.

When the kids arrived we let them run around like crazy wild boys for about an hour, then wrangled them for mini pizzas.

At this point they were pretty tired from all their shenanigans and were ready to sit and watch SING the movie (out on DVD/Blu-ray/digital download on 3/21!)

We popped in the movie, I fed the baby and then sent him on his way with daddy for a nice daddy/baby day date, then we poured mimosas and sat in the dining room hanging out while the little monsters watched SING happily in the other room.

It was awesome!! Often our playdates consist of taking turns telling our kids not to jump off things, throw things, say inappropriate (often potty related) things and occasionally having a yell-talk conversation over their loud happy crazy play.  I often leave feeling exhausted and slightly overwhelmed at the chaos that just ensued.

Popping in a fun, age-appropriate movie like SING for part of the play date allowed us to actually have relaxed adult conversation.  We didn’t need to find babysitters or force ourselves out of the house half-awake after the kids went to bed.  We were able to just hang on a Sunday afternoon while the kids were entertained and calm right in the next room (a miraculous feat for four ‘boy moms’.)  And since we are a mostly screen free family with special movie night (aka tv time) once a week, it was an extra special treat for our son.

After the kiddos and mamas left, my hubby came back with the baby.  I fed him again and then retreated to my room for some alone time.  Our oldest was good and tired from his rowdy play with his friends before and after the movie.  I put a do not disturb sign on the door (locked it), put on a pair of noise canceling headphones, poured a glass of wine and curled up on the bed to read magazines and enjoy hearing music and not incessant crying or calling out for mommy mommy mommy.  I had a good hour of time doing NOTHING of importance and it was glorious!

I got the best of both worlds, fun social time with good friends AND some quiet time for myself all without leaving the house! Oh, and did I mention I also got the house clean?! This is one for the record books, for real.

Now I just need to find time to watch SING myself, because the clips I got to see were fun and funny…not to mention the music was great.

Lucky for me, Illumination Entertainment (the same folks that did THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS) sent me a copy of the SING Special Edition which is available with 3 New Mini-Movies on March 21 – just in time to host your own movie playdate/moms day in! 

AND they are partnering with me to give a copy away too!

SING is a super cute musical comedy starring Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon, an optimistic koala who puts on an epic singing competition to save his theater; Reese Witherspoon as Rosita (my animated soul sister) an overworked and underappreciataed mama to 25 little piglets who desperately wants to unleash her superstar inner diva; Scarlett Johansson as Ash, an uber cool punk rocker porcupine; and Taron Egerton as Johnny, a young gangster gorilla trying to break out of his criminal family’s ways.

It truly is one of those movies that parents can enjoy with their kids.  It’s funny, there is great music (you will have to try to not get up and sing & dance), and there are no real scary parts.  Although I will admit you may have to explain that Sir Mix-a-lot’s “I like big butts” is not an appropriate thing to sing around the house or at school (no matter how funny it is!)

Enter my giveaway to win your own copy of SING Special Edition on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download here!

SING Special Edition Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD Giveaway

*This post is sponsored.  All thoughts and ideas are 100% my own.

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38 Comments

  • Reply
    Jessica Beard
    March 20, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    A nice shower is always nice, even if it is for 10 minutes!

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 20, 2017 at 9:19 pm

      Yes!!! Showering is one of those things I never knew was so luxurious until I had kids haha!

  • Reply
    Lisa L.
    March 20, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    Nothing beats a nice bath for some me time

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 20, 2017 at 9:18 pm

      So true!

  • Reply
    Marty
    March 23, 2017 at 7:48 am

    After everyone else in the house is asleep, I like to read in bed, tented under the blankets with my Kindle, like a little kid with a flashlight. I may be sleep-deprived, but it’s worth it — it’s pretty much my only no-toddler time.

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:08 pm

      That sounds fun! Like camping in your bedroom. I may have to try this since we share our bedroom with our 4 month old – hiding under the covers…

  • Reply
    Denise Hauer
    March 28, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    I love putting up a hammock outside and reading for a bit! If my kids join me they know it’s quiet reading time so they are welcome to lay with me and read to themselves <3

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      What a great idea!!! #backyardenvy

  • Reply
    Jill Jackson
    March 28, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    I’m grandma so I just send them all home

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      haha! I’ve heard the grandparent phase is super fun – you get to have all the love, none of the stress – and you get to see your children deal with all the stuff you had to deal with – karma!

  • Reply
    Donna Kozar
    March 28, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    Have my husband watch them.

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:05 pm

      That’s my go to as well since we don’t have any other family in the area – when he gets home from work I immediately go on a walk or to yoga or sometimes just lock myself in the bedroom and BREATHE!

  • Reply
    ashley meyer
    March 28, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    taking a bubble bath

  • Reply
    Maggie Smith
    March 28, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    I host a weekly Happy Hour with my friends at my house. They all bring a bottle and a snack and we all share. My kids are 6&9 so they don’t bother us much!!

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:03 pm

      That’s such a great idea! I so look forward to when our kiddos are old enough that we don’t have to walk on eggshells after bedtime!

  • Reply
    sandra adams
    March 28, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    A nice quiet bath lol

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:02 pm

      the QUIET part is the magical ingredient!

  • Reply
    Josh L
    March 28, 2017 at 7:54 pm

    Bath with candles

  • Reply
    GINA ROCK
    March 28, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    I take a bath when I really need to unwind.

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:01 pm

      yes, the bathroom is like a mom’s sanctuary!

  • Reply
    Stephanie Beckwith
    March 28, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    My momME time is waking up an hour before the kids, having my coffee in peace.

    • Reply
      Lindsey
      March 28, 2017 at 8:01 pm

      that sounds heavenly!!! I would have to get up at like 4am for this haha!

  • Reply
    Liesjemarie
    March 28, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    Mama time is best sharing chocolate treats & meal with friends – snail mail invites & plan celebrating seasonal pot luck with a neighbor with same age kids… Relax & watch Johnny Depp in “Chocolat” in nearby room when kids watch their movie

  • Reply
    debbie wilson
    March 28, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    I LOVE SINGING IN THE SHOWER, I only sing when no 1 is home lol

  • Reply
    wendi
    March 28, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    either shower or just going and sitting on my back porch while sleeping

  • Reply
    Debbie Moon
    March 28, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    I am a grand parent so just send them back home with their parents. Love my grand babies so I give their Mom a break when ever she wants one.

  • Reply
    Juanita May
    March 28, 2017 at 8:15 pm

    Going to the grocery store and letting him keep the kids at home.

  • Reply
    Danielle bell
    March 28, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    Taking a relaxing bath

  • Reply
    kelly woods
    March 28, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    Love me some bath time with candles and a book!! Relaxation at its finest!!

  • Reply
    Meghan K
    March 28, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    When the kids and hubby go to bed I sit on the couch eating a bowl of ice cream watching Hulu!

  • Reply
    Danielle Lindquist
    March 28, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    Usually I just go in the bathroom and get in the bath tub!

  • Reply
    Annette H
    March 28, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    I stay up later for the quiet time

  • Reply
    Judy Custer
    March 28, 2017 at 8:38 pm

    Long hot shower for me

  • Reply
    stephanie scales campbell
    March 28, 2017 at 8:55 pm

    A long hot shower after the kids go to bed is always nice.

  • Reply
    Cami Valenzuela
    March 28, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    I go get my nails done every other week. During the week a nice hot shower.

  • Reply
    Jenny Ham
    March 28, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    Soaking in the tub

  • Reply
    Nicole shada
    March 28, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    My girls LoVED this movie

  • Reply
    Mary L Cottingham
    March 28, 2017 at 10:46 pm

    Having their aunt come for a hangout

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