Elementary school = busy social life for parents

[Anonymous]

Oh man I'd love to find some parent friends for D&D. Running a campaign with non-parents is a scheduling nightmare (above and beyond the scheduling nightmare that adult D&D already is)

[Anonymous]

No. Huge uptick in kid activities and random socialization happening though that, sure.

[Anonymous]

OP is sounds like your kids go to a small private school? This is not at all my experience with kids at a larger public. We are in a high SES area with a mix of dual and single income households. Nobody is organizing lunches and dinners for "all the moms". People socialize at kid activities, and with whoever they end up making friends with, but it's way too big to try to have some social event for everyone outside of school-wide events. That sounds it would only work in a very small community. Unless you're saying "all the moms" but what you really mean is some clique that isn't actually opening up these invites to a larger group. Either way no that sounds like something done by people with a lot more time in their hands than I have.

[Anonymous]

Some of have jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you have a big shift when your kids went off to elementary school in terms of your own social life? Now that many people are out of the baby phase there’s dinners and lunches several times a week for all the moms in my kids’ elementary school. I’m trying to find a good balance with this. If your school has a similar situation how often do you typically socialize with other parents (sans kids)? Some are good friends but some are more acquaintances.

My social life has gone downhill the older my kids get because I spend more time driving my kids to and from activities, or at weekend tournaments, and swim meets. My kids do club swim and a winter travel sport, scouts, soccer, summer swim. There’s stuff going on year round. I rarely have time for dinner and lunches with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is sounds like your kids go to a small private school? This is not at all my experience with kids at a larger public. We are in a high SES area with a mix of dual and single income households. Nobody is organizing lunches and dinners for "all the moms". People socialize at kid activities, and with whoever they end up making friends with, but it's way too big to try to have some social event for everyone outside of school-wide events. That sounds it would only work in a very small community. Unless you're saying "all the moms" but what you really mean is some clique that isn't actually opening up these invites to a larger group. Either way no that sounds like something done by people with a lot more time in their hands than I have.

Not OP but we are in a small community and this is very true - there is a group of moms who socialize multiple times a week together and take trips. It's invite only too. I'll add they all have young kids, K, 1st or younger so the kids get along more easily.

[Anonymous]

I get together with my GFs maybe every few months. I’ve got four kids ten and under and I have no time to really kick back. But I’m ok with it as I brought them into this world.

[Anonymous]

Twas not so for us. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you have a big shift when your kids went off to elementary school in terms of your own social life? Now that many people are out of the baby phase there’s dinners and lunches several times a week for all the moms in my kids’ elementary school. I’m trying to find a good balance with this. If your school has a similar situation how often do you typically socialize with other parents (sans kids)? Some are good friends but some are more acquaintances.

I assume this is a small private school?

[Anonymous]

Its got to be Beauvoir.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not for me. Maybe I’m just the loser no one invites though. 😉

The social thing at our elementary is hanging around chatting at drop off/pickup. But I work and my kids do aftercare, so I can’t do that.

Haha, same!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its got to be Beauvoir.

You think there's only one school like this? I'm at a catholic K-8 and have found this. I love it, but I'm a SAHM and appreciate the socialization. I prefer the coffees and lunches and maybe occasional happy hours or moms night out, but don't do 3 times a week like OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its got to be Beauvoir.

You think there's only one school like this? I'm at a catholic K-8 and have found this. I love it, but I'm a SAHM and appreciate the socialization. I prefer the coffees and lunches and maybe occasional happy hours or moms night out, but don't do 3 times a week like OP.

Also at a large Catholic and definitely feel the “ladies who lunch”/country club vibe from many. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do less. Most are so superficial trying to one up each other in not so subtle ways. Friends today while it is convenient bc our kids go to school together but really not true sincere friendships.

[Anonymous]

I am at a Catholic k-8 and there is a mass once a month that the moms go to, plus the monthly PTA meeting, in class volunteering, and every grade has around 3 parent events per year (a moms night, a parent night, and a whole family night) so I'd say it's extremely social for parents. Of course around half the parents don't go to this stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am at a Catholic k-8 and there is a mass once a month that the moms go to, plus the monthly PTA meeting, in class volunteering, and every grade has around 3 parent events per year (a moms night, a parent night, and a whole family night) so I'd say it's extremely social for parents. Of course around half the parents don't go to this stuff.

Most of what you listed are not social events,..