Typically Wednesday is deal day, but today's a little different. With the Jewish New Year around the corner, ie tonight, I have much to be thankful for, and certainly deals are something I appreciate everyday all year, buuuut today here's the deal...
I don't have coupon codes to share, I want to share my gratitude instead. I just wanted to thank you for reading my blog, for taking time out of your busy days to check this blog out, for giving me your feedback, for supporting small fry society and bun in the oven bunch as a member, business partner, family member or friend. Your support is invaluable. I have to much to be thankful for--a fabulous family, health, a home, food on our table every night and a new business, and more. I am thankful for a year of chaos, with highs and lows, that has taught me a lot about being a good mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and so on. I am thankful to have been filled with laughter everyday, even on stressful days, since AML jr came along.
May this next year be a sweet one for everyone. xoxo
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
To turn or not to turn?
How many of you have experienced a screaming child in a rear-facing car seat and longed for the day when you could finally turn the car seat facing forward so you can see the child's face in your rear-view mirror and try to calm him/her, rub his/her leg for a minute to soothe the child, hand the child a bottle or generally see what the child is up to? I know I have on many occasions!
Well, you may need to take a seat for this one...some may have thought that the one year birthday or around 20 lbs was the right time to make the switch to the forward-facing car seat, BUT, it just isn't so according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In a recent article on Parenting.com, it cites that the AAP now advises parents to keep kids in rear-facing car seats until they are two or exceed the height and weight limit for the car seat, found on the back of the seat. "Previously, the AAP advised parents to keep kids rear-facing as long as possible, up to the maximum limit of the car seat, and this has not changed. But it also cited one year and 20 pounds as the minimum for flipping the seat, which many parents and pediatricians interpreted as conventional wisdom on the best time to make the switch. The new policy clarifies the AAP’s recommendation, making age two the new guideline—a real game-changer for parents of toddlers."
“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” said Dennis Durbin, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric emergency physician and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the policy statement and accompanying technical report.
In addition to the safety factor, you can hold off on the expense of purchasing a forward-facing car seat for a bit longer. How's that for glass half full thinking?
Well, you may need to take a seat for this one...some may have thought that the one year birthday or around 20 lbs was the right time to make the switch to the forward-facing car seat, BUT, it just isn't so according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In a recent article on Parenting.com, it cites that the AAP now advises parents to keep kids in rear-facing car seats until they are two or exceed the height and weight limit for the car seat, found on the back of the seat. "Previously, the AAP advised parents to keep kids rear-facing as long as possible, up to the maximum limit of the car seat, and this has not changed. But it also cited one year and 20 pounds as the minimum for flipping the seat, which many parents and pediatricians interpreted as conventional wisdom on the best time to make the switch. The new policy clarifies the AAP’s recommendation, making age two the new guideline—a real game-changer for parents of toddlers."
“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” said Dennis Durbin, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatric emergency physician and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author of the policy statement and accompanying technical report.
In addition to the safety factor, you can hold off on the expense of purchasing a forward-facing car seat for a bit longer. How's that for glass half full thinking?
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Miss you!
Ahhhh it's been only a week since my last post, but I've missed you readers! I was busy preparing for the first small fry society social, which was yesterday. How was it? It was a blast (not a blast in a glass--Jersey Shore style, but at minimum a blast in a sippy cup). Despite the heat at the park, the yoga by Lucky Cat Yoga and food from Amore was awesome! Who knew working out could be so relaxing and fun even with the kids crawling/walking around everywhere, and food could be so healthy and THAT delicious? I made goody bags for everyone with yummy chocolates from Schakolad (they are the best, seriously and the owner Archie is the sweetest man ever) and raffled off Swaggies (so cute and usable wet swimsuit holders for the kids) and a signed book called "Domestic Commando" by Toni Carpenter (her writing is hysterical, buy the book if you're a mom, trust me). A lot of fun was had by all! I wish every Wednesday could be filled with such good times, good food and good people.
Ok, I know, enough about me and back to you. What have you been up to? What have I missed? Besides a gazzilion awesome fashion events around the country and so many great tv shows back on the air. Is there any show as funny as Modern Family? I think not.
I know there are some amazing family-friendly events coming up this weekend in Tampa. There's The Forgotten Children March of Tampa Bay on Saturday from 9am-2pm (food, bounce houses, face painting and much more and for a great cause), Board Games, Bubbly and Brew for us adults at Glazer Children's Museum on Saturday night--$5 off with code BBB and Sunday from 10am-12:30pm is Sunshine Sunday at Glazer Children's Museum--a special day for children with special needs and their families. And don't forget, all month the Glazer Children's Museum is offering $5 admission in celebration of its first birthday! This Saturday is also Museum Day sponsored by the Smithsonian, so you and a guest can visit a lot of museums around the country for free this weekend. Hungry for more? How about checking out the Food Truck Rally on Saturday at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church? Yes please!
What am I missing? Besides you... :-)
Ok, I know, enough about me and back to you. What have you been up to? What have I missed? Besides a gazzilion awesome fashion events around the country and so many great tv shows back on the air. Is there any show as funny as Modern Family? I think not.
I know there are some amazing family-friendly events coming up this weekend in Tampa. There's The Forgotten Children March of Tampa Bay on Saturday from 9am-2pm (food, bounce houses, face painting and much more and for a great cause), Board Games, Bubbly and Brew for us adults at Glazer Children's Museum on Saturday night--$5 off with code BBB and Sunday from 10am-12:30pm is Sunshine Sunday at Glazer Children's Museum--a special day for children with special needs and their families. And don't forget, all month the Glazer Children's Museum is offering $5 admission in celebration of its first birthday! This Saturday is also Museum Day sponsored by the Smithsonian, so you and a guest can visit a lot of museums around the country for free this weekend. Hungry for more? How about checking out the Food Truck Rally on Saturday at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church? Yes please!
What am I missing? Besides you... :-)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Deals of the Day
Is it Wednesday already? Indeed it is. Today's deals are all fun and games...
Don't us adults deserve a little playtime too? Well, you can have it! Buy your tickets now to Board Games, Bubbly & Brew at Glazer Children's Museum on Saturday, September 24 and my readers can use code BBB to save 10%.
PLUS there's a party going on right tere...and by there I mean Glazer Children's Museum. After attending Board Games, Bubbly & Brew with the adults the night before, take the kids to celebrate the museum's first birthday on Sunday, September 25 from noon until 2pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The event is free and will be filled with games, cake, awesome Fit Kids Playground events, face painters, giveaways and more.
Trade-in your old board games for coupons. Big rewards for taking small actions=awesome. We all have old games hidden away in closets with missing pieces, so why not pack them up and send them for free to Recyclebank for points toward valuable coupons? Recyclebank is a site that enables environmentally minded people to earn points for rewards while taking “green” actions. So let me get this straight--I send away my old stuff, help the environment and get to earn points to buy other stuff? Sweet.
Gymboree is offering up to 50% off towards select items.
Don't us adults deserve a little playtime too? Well, you can have it! Buy your tickets now to Board Games, Bubbly & Brew at Glazer Children's Museum on Saturday, September 24 and my readers can use code BBB to save 10%.
PLUS there's a party going on right tere...and by there I mean Glazer Children's Museum. After attending Board Games, Bubbly & Brew with the adults the night before, take the kids to celebrate the museum's first birthday on Sunday, September 25 from noon until 2pm at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The event is free and will be filled with games, cake, awesome Fit Kids Playground events, face painters, giveaways and more.
Trade-in your old board games for coupons. Big rewards for taking small actions=awesome. We all have old games hidden away in closets with missing pieces, so why not pack them up and send them for free to Recyclebank for points toward valuable coupons? Recyclebank is a site that enables environmentally minded people to earn points for rewards while taking “green” actions. So let me get this straight--I send away my old stuff, help the environment and get to earn points to buy other stuff? Sweet.
Gymboree is offering up to 50% off towards select items.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Debate schmebate
Did anyone catch the Tea Party debate last night? I had planned to, but ended up forgetting about it, funny enough. I did watch the highlights on CNN afterwards, and it was pretty much how I expected it to be. Venting, raised voices, sarcasm, attacks, with facts and statistics thrown in here and there. Everyone complains about the problems and puts the blame on the current administration, but no one really has any solutions.
The politicians talk and talk and talk, but has anyone been able to lower the unemployment rate after all this time? And where is all this spending getting us, besides into more debt? And companies are still laying people off, so I wonder if things are going to get worse in this country before they get better. Now that's really scary. I realize they aren't superheroes, they are human beings empowered by us to represent us in political offices, but they really aren't helping matters. More doing, less talking politicians!
I'm not what I'd call a political person. I don't regularly discuss politics outside my home and I don't get involved in political party activities. But like every good American, I have opinions and now that I have a child I have even more concerns than ever about the economy, healthcare, the environment, etc.. I can't remember the last time I voted and truly 100% supported that candidate. I often vote for the lesser of two evils (hard to choose really), which is sad. At this rate, I'm afraid that 2012 will be no different...
As a parent, have you become more or less politically active?
The politicians talk and talk and talk, but has anyone been able to lower the unemployment rate after all this time? And where is all this spending getting us, besides into more debt? And companies are still laying people off, so I wonder if things are going to get worse in this country before they get better. Now that's really scary. I realize they aren't superheroes, they are human beings empowered by us to represent us in political offices, but they really aren't helping matters. More doing, less talking politicians!
I'm not what I'd call a political person. I don't regularly discuss politics outside my home and I don't get involved in political party activities. But like every good American, I have opinions and now that I have a child I have even more concerns than ever about the economy, healthcare, the environment, etc.. I can't remember the last time I voted and truly 100% supported that candidate. I often vote for the lesser of two evils (hard to choose really), which is sad. At this rate, I'm afraid that 2012 will be no different...
As a parent, have you become more or less politically active?
Friday, September 9, 2011
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going (and thankful for it!)
Yes, I do happen to love Billy Ocean. And admit it, you do too. With his soulful songs that make you dance one minute and cry the next (there'll be sad songs, to make you cry...) we just can't get enough. Ok, where I was going with this post? Oh right, tough get going.
I cannot believe it's already September and there is so much to do. Next week I announce the social calendar for bun in the oven bunch. It's going to be such a fun program for moms-to-be! But with bun in the oven bunch, I am essentially running three programs--small fry society for moms and babies, bun in the oven bunch for expectant moms and additional socials for moms and moms-to-be who join the full programs. This is A LOT of work, but it's also a joy to do. I am finally getting to plan events for the people with the toughest and most rewarding job in the world--parents! Each day I come up with new ideas and share these thoughts with moms and moms-to-be and get excellent feedback. It makes me feel I'm heading down the right path in terms of themes and opportunities to bring people together with each other and with local businesses. In addition to planning out the socials and running the day-to-day business, I'm also a full-time mom, but AML jr certainly calls the shots these days. She is my 10 month old little love that inspires me everyday with the simplest looks and moves she makes.
Some may wonder how it's possible to work and be dedicated to your child/children, but just ask any of the millions of women out there who do it and you're likely to get the same answer--no sleep! But in addition to no/less sleep, it also takes a willingness to know when to turn on and off--turn off the Blackberry at dinner, turn on the computer before the baby wakes up in the morning, turn off the light and get into bed when the rest of your family is ready to go to sleep, turn on the laundry machine while the baby is napping, turn off the TV so you can finish your work, turn on the car and squeeze in that extra errand and so on and so forth. It's knowing when to do what to best suit your work and your family and how to ensure everyone feels 'loved.' It's also knowing when to take a break from it all and do something nice for yourself, sometimes even as simple as getting into bed earlier or waking up earlier to have some peace and quiet. I also highly recommend a monthly Girls' Night Out--Oct 25 at Neiman Marcus anyone?
I try to stay as positive as possible no matter what may stand in my way, and keep up my energy level. I find that you really can pass on good energy. How lucky am I? I remind myself everyday that I am lucky to be an American, lucky to have my family, lucky to have good health (me and my family), lucky to be able to start a business, lucky to have people interested in my business, lucky to just be alive. So when I'm feeling exhausted or the day just seems too tough to bear, I remember all the good things I have in my life and I press on. I'm not saying it's easy all the time, but I find if you keep moving and don't focus on the negative things for too long that better things tend to pop up. Oh, and I find Yogurtology is an excellent pick-me-up and it's never too early to eat it, in my opinion.
I cannot believe it's already September and there is so much to do. Next week I announce the social calendar for bun in the oven bunch. It's going to be such a fun program for moms-to-be! But with bun in the oven bunch, I am essentially running three programs--small fry society for moms and babies, bun in the oven bunch for expectant moms and additional socials for moms and moms-to-be who join the full programs. This is A LOT of work, but it's also a joy to do. I am finally getting to plan events for the people with the toughest and most rewarding job in the world--parents! Each day I come up with new ideas and share these thoughts with moms and moms-to-be and get excellent feedback. It makes me feel I'm heading down the right path in terms of themes and opportunities to bring people together with each other and with local businesses. In addition to planning out the socials and running the day-to-day business, I'm also a full-time mom, but AML jr certainly calls the shots these days. She is my 10 month old little love that inspires me everyday with the simplest looks and moves she makes.
Some may wonder how it's possible to work and be dedicated to your child/children, but just ask any of the millions of women out there who do it and you're likely to get the same answer--no sleep! But in addition to no/less sleep, it also takes a willingness to know when to turn on and off--turn off the Blackberry at dinner, turn on the computer before the baby wakes up in the morning, turn off the light and get into bed when the rest of your family is ready to go to sleep, turn on the laundry machine while the baby is napping, turn off the TV so you can finish your work, turn on the car and squeeze in that extra errand and so on and so forth. It's knowing when to do what to best suit your work and your family and how to ensure everyone feels 'loved.' It's also knowing when to take a break from it all and do something nice for yourself, sometimes even as simple as getting into bed earlier or waking up earlier to have some peace and quiet. I also highly recommend a monthly Girls' Night Out--Oct 25 at Neiman Marcus anyone?
I try to stay as positive as possible no matter what may stand in my way, and keep up my energy level. I find that you really can pass on good energy. How lucky am I? I remind myself everyday that I am lucky to be an American, lucky to have my family, lucky to have good health (me and my family), lucky to be able to start a business, lucky to have people interested in my business, lucky to just be alive. So when I'm feeling exhausted or the day just seems too tough to bear, I remember all the good things I have in my life and I press on. I'm not saying it's easy all the time, but I find if you keep moving and don't focus on the negative things for too long that better things tend to pop up. Oh, and I find Yogurtology is an excellent pick-me-up and it's never too early to eat it, in my opinion.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Deals of the Day
Deal of the year for moms and moms-to-be: small fry society or bun in the oven bunch term is only $199 for eight socials or Girls' Night Out on October 25th is only $20
Publix coupons galore, click here.
Fashion's Night Out is tomorrow. Stores across many cities are offering fashion shows, styling and beauty tips, discounts, food, drinks, music and giveaways. Here's a link the the Fashion's Night Out guide.
In Tampa, in addition to International Plaza, also check out DKM accessories and Why Not Boutique for sales giveaways and new merchandise.
Baby Gap-up to 40% off, click here.
Publix coupons galore, click here.
Fashion's Night Out is tomorrow. Stores across many cities are offering fashion shows, styling and beauty tips, discounts, food, drinks, music and giveaways. Here's a link the the Fashion's Night Out guide.
In Tampa, in addition to International Plaza, also check out DKM accessories and Why Not Boutique for sales giveaways and new merchandise.
Baby Gap-up to 40% off, click here.
Amazon deal: Extra 25% off $20 Purchase of Select Products from Johnson's Baby, Neutrogena, & More: 12 Bottles of 15-oz Johnson's Baby Pure Cornstarch Powder, Lavender & Chamomile $15
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
A little bit of this, a little bit of that on my mind
Welcome back, or if your long weekend is still going on, stop reading this and continue enjoying the time off.
Three day weekends are so delightful. An extra day to get things done while others are vacationing. The email inbox tends to be smaller and I find the time to take care of all those errands I've been avoiding for weeks. Yep, my life is THAT exciting. Still, I don't think it matters where you go, if you're together as a family, it's a nice day. Okay, so Office Depot is no beach, but we still enjoyed being together and buying labels for Papa Lusty's homemade brew is kind of cool.
So, as we wrap up the holiday weekend and head into a four day work week, I wanted to pass on a few tidbits on my mind.
If you don't know by now, I'm excited to share that small fry society and bun in the oven bunch was featured in Sunday's Tampa Tribune in the Baylife section. Here it is: http://www.smallfrysociety.
Don't forget that tomorrow is Target $2 Tuesdays at Glazer Children's Museum, which means $2 admission from 2pm-7pm. This is a great deal, so I hope some people can take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the museum with their children. Lines can start forming as early as 12:30pm, so bring plenty of water, bottles and snacks in case you have to wait a little while to get in.
Also, RIP Lee Roy Selmon who died this weekend
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills comes back on tonight. Hallelujah! (I can't get enough of the Real Housevies, every single one of them)
Did you know Texas de Brazil gives you a complimentary dinner for your birthday? Yeah, go get on that asap (sign up here)
Swaptember begins tomorrow and runs through September 30, 2011, Zoo, MOSI and Florida Aquarium members can take advantage of “Swaptember,” which provides free admission to each of these three attractions. All members of any of these attractions must have a photo identification and current membership card to enter for free.
Finally, Fashion's Night Out is this week (Sept 8). I hope you get to enjoy the various events in your city. In Tampa, here's a good place to find more info about the event: http://www.facebook.com/FNOTampaBay.
Yes, those are the kinds of things running through my mind tonight. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend and the start of this shorter work week!
Three day weekends are so delightful. An extra day to get things done while others are vacationing. The email inbox tends to be smaller and I find the time to take care of all those errands I've been avoiding for weeks. Yep, my life is THAT exciting. Still, I don't think it matters where you go, if you're together as a family, it's a nice day. Okay, so Office Depot is no beach, but we still enjoyed being together and buying labels for Papa Lusty's homemade brew is kind of cool.
So, as we wrap up the holiday weekend and head into a four day work week, I wanted to pass on a few tidbits on my mind.
If you don't know by now, I'm excited to share that small fry society and bun in the oven bunch was featured in Sunday's Tampa Tribune in the Baylife section. Here it is: http://www.smallfrysociety.
Don't forget that tomorrow is Target $2 Tuesdays at Glazer Children's Museum, which means $2 admission from 2pm-7pm. This is a great deal, so I hope some people can take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the museum with their children. Lines can start forming as early as 12:30pm, so bring plenty of water, bottles and snacks in case you have to wait a little while to get in.
Also, RIP Lee Roy Selmon who died this weekend
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills comes back on tonight. Hallelujah! (I can't get enough of the Real Housevies, every single one of them)
Did you know Texas de Brazil gives you a complimentary dinner for your birthday? Yeah, go get on that asap (sign up here)
Swaptember begins tomorrow and runs through September 30, 2011, Zoo, MOSI and Florida Aquarium members can take advantage of “Swaptember,” which provides free admission to each of these three attractions. All members of any of these attractions must have a photo identification and current membership card to enter for free.
Finally, Fashion's Night Out is this week (Sept 8). I hope you get to enjoy the various events in your city. In Tampa, here's a good place to find more info about the event: http://www.facebook.com/FNOTampaBay.
Yes, those are the kinds of things running through my mind tonight. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend and the start of this shorter work week!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Yeoman's means heaven (except pronounced like YO MANs)
I am a simple girl. I like good people, good times and good burgers. I especially like people who are good to me when I walk into a pub that is convenient to my house with a 10 month old in a stroller. Not surprisingly, not every place is kid-friendly, and every time we want to eat out we don't want to call a sitter.
Yeoman's is owned by South Jersey natives who moved to Tampa to escape the cold and grey skies of Jersey. Yeoman's is literally on an island, Davis Islands (home to us and also Derek Jeter--don't gasp, we aren't exactly neighbors, nor have we ever seen Jeter). There are several high points to Yeoman's, so allow me to sing their praises for a moment.
First, the location rules. It's walking distance from our house and located across from a Blockbuster Express (dinner and a movie is our social life in a nutshell). For those who have to drive to Yeoman's, it's right in the heart of Davis Islands and parking (free) is never a problem. Next, their is outdoor seating, which in September might not seem exciting, but by November it will be lovely. Also, the service is awesome. The owner and her daughter take service with a smile to the max--they are fast, friendly and serve friggin' delicious food (friggin'--shout out to Jersey). Their beer selection is also top notch, they don't mess around when it comes to beers. They have live music many nights of the week, TVs for game watching and plenty of space for your kid (strollers or pacing while he/she is whining). Best of all is the value. For $7.95 you get a big burger that is always cooked correctly and fries (substitute sweet potato if you like) . This is the kind of neighborhood place where you never have to ask for a refill, extra napkins, or worry about getting dressed up.
Like I said, I try to keep it simple. We've made Yeoman's our go-to place for all of the above reasons and more. If you haven't been and you live in or around Tampa, throw on your flip-flops, put on your baseball cap and go check it out. If you have been before but you've opted for fancier burger joints lately, go back and visit your friends at Yeoman's. They'll make it worth your while and you won't regret it or forget it (but don't forget to ask for the Yeoman's loyalty card).
Much love to you Yeoman's. Let's be honest...see you next week. :-)
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Porsche of strollers
I've heard many friends call certain baby products "The Porsche of," but now parents really can buy a Porsche stroller. And why shouldn't the children of Porsche driving parents have a stroller of the same brand and prestige?
Enter The Porsche Design P’4911. The stroller's name evokes luxury and distinction, like the cars. Sweden-based designer Dawid Dawod is known for other amazing projects like recyclable jewelry, multi-purposes speakers, irons and a variety of decor iterms. Porsche's latest designs include an AED limited edition watch, P'9522 luxury phone and Porsche Design hookah pipe. I mean who doesn't need a Porsche phone? The stroller is made of high quality materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, leather and ball-bearing wheels, is foldable and can be fit into any compact Porsche, and safety was a priority in the design as it is equipped with a front safety belt, which also enhances its sleek design.
I believe it when people say there is no such thing as over-spoiling a baby, but maybe there is? Though we forget this when we're buying the "best of the best" baby items, which tend to be the most expensive the majority of the time, it's important to remember that your baby won't know or care about the brands of their products. I mean certainly safety is a priority, and comfort is important too, but beyond that, does it really matter what branding is on your stroller, playmat, bottles and so on. And if you're afraid your friends will judge you because you chose the baby product that is considerably less expensive and less fancy, but equally as safe, comfortable, and even visually appealing for your taste, then those friends need a lesson on "if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all." And conversely, if you want to buy the highest end items, or splurge here and there for your baby, no one should judge you. I strongly believe that what we buy our children (and ourselves) is our choice, based on our budgets and beliefs, and we don't need to feel guilty or justify anything to anyone. If you absolutely feel the need to give a reason for your purchases, my mom always allows me to use her as an excuse--"My mom bought this for AML jr (and oftentimes she did)" or "My mom used this brand when I was kid and had a great experience, so I've decided to try it too (again, oftentimes this is the case)." Again, Grandma knows best.
If you are curious to see how the wealthiest are spending money on their kids, check out the most expensive baby items meant for the rich toddlers. The Swarovski crystal-studded toilet seat might be my favorite on the list.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Parent couple dating
I was just with a friend at lunch, let's call her "Mrs. L, the mommy with the two adorable girls under 5 who is a blast in a glass." I knew I'd find some way to use blast in a glass (Jersey Shore reference). I hadn't seen her in years, but we went to college together, both grew up in South Florida, both live in Tampa (glad she moved back here) and both have kids, so right there we have things in common.
As we sat down at lunch it was comfortable from the start and we were catching up and laughing about the trials and tribulations of choosing a preschool, the differences between South Florida and Tampa, and meeting other moms and dads. The last part is where I'm heading, so let's get right to it, parent couple dating in on my mind. When you become a parent, all of a sudden you tend to see your single or married friends a lot less. There are numerous reasons why we parents find ourselves "dating" in order to find other parents to be our new friends. Not to replace old friends, I mean like Mrs. L said, you certainly can't, nor would you want to, replace college friends so easily (They know things about you that even your husband may never know! What happens in college stays in college, right? Oh wait, that's Vegas, eeesh,).
It's not that we want to talk about kids all the time with our parent friends, it's oftentimes quite the opposite. However, it is nice to date parents in order to put together a support system, people who understand when the child you love with all of your heart is making you pull your hair out (or pulling your hair out on his/her own). Parent couple dating involves meeting other people, who like you are men and women with potentially similar interests to you, but who also now carry the title of parent. They understand why we often want to be home by midnight or earlier on date night in fear of our children waking up in the middle of the night, why we are regularly checking our phones for status updates from the babysitter when we're out, why choosing a preschool is so stressful, why we really, really needed that extra cocktail at dinner, why we miss our parents even though we just saw them yesterday, why our usual intellectual selves haven't read a book in a year but are caught up on all reality TV, and so on and so forth. Perhaps parents just get each other, there is often an unspoken bond between parents around the world. We're hoping that our parent dates will reveal similar interests in golf, wine, movies, vacation locations, etc. And it doesn't hurt if the kids like each other too because it's nice to get together with other families.
So I'm taking my own advice. I'm newish to Tampa and I'm putting myself out there. I'm going on dates to find good fits for mom friends, dad friends for Papa Lusty, kid friends for AML jr and even doggy friends for Maddy. Some may even be blind date setups. I'm not saying it's easy. It might seem awkward at first, but like going on dates with potential significant others, it's usually fun. At the least, you'll get out on a Saturday night with other adults, eat without being interrupted and get tunes from Dora the Explorer or Fresh Beat Band out of your head for a few hours. If you put yourself out there, you never know what good people and good times lay ahead.
And not to over-plug it, but small fry society and bun in the oven bunch are great places to meet other moms and moms-to-be, so join us!
As we sat down at lunch it was comfortable from the start and we were catching up and laughing about the trials and tribulations of choosing a preschool, the differences between South Florida and Tampa, and meeting other moms and dads. The last part is where I'm heading, so let's get right to it, parent couple dating in on my mind. When you become a parent, all of a sudden you tend to see your single or married friends a lot less. There are numerous reasons why we parents find ourselves "dating" in order to find other parents to be our new friends. Not to replace old friends, I mean like Mrs. L said, you certainly can't, nor would you want to, replace college friends so easily (They know things about you that even your husband may never know! What happens in college stays in college, right? Oh wait, that's Vegas, eeesh,).
It's not that we want to talk about kids all the time with our parent friends, it's oftentimes quite the opposite. However, it is nice to date parents in order to put together a support system, people who understand when the child you love with all of your heart is making you pull your hair out (or pulling your hair out on his/her own). Parent couple dating involves meeting other people, who like you are men and women with potentially similar interests to you, but who also now carry the title of parent. They understand why we often want to be home by midnight or earlier on date night in fear of our children waking up in the middle of the night, why we are regularly checking our phones for status updates from the babysitter when we're out, why choosing a preschool is so stressful, why we really, really needed that extra cocktail at dinner, why we miss our parents even though we just saw them yesterday, why our usual intellectual selves haven't read a book in a year but are caught up on all reality TV, and so on and so forth. Perhaps parents just get each other, there is often an unspoken bond between parents around the world. We're hoping that our parent dates will reveal similar interests in golf, wine, movies, vacation locations, etc. And it doesn't hurt if the kids like each other too because it's nice to get together with other families.
So I'm taking my own advice. I'm newish to Tampa and I'm putting myself out there. I'm going on dates to find good fits for mom friends, dad friends for Papa Lusty, kid friends for AML jr and even doggy friends for Maddy. Some may even be blind date setups. I'm not saying it's easy. It might seem awkward at first, but like going on dates with potential significant others, it's usually fun. At the least, you'll get out on a Saturday night with other adults, eat without being interrupted and get tunes from Dora the Explorer or Fresh Beat Band out of your head for a few hours. If you put yourself out there, you never know what good people and good times lay ahead.
And not to over-plug it, but small fry society and bun in the oven bunch are great places to meet other moms and moms-to-be, so join us!
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