how often do you hang out with other families

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We usually do a 3-5 day trip with other families (many different, between 1-5 families at a time) at least once a month and otherwise meet up about once or twice a week. We see our childless friends much more often, but don't travel with them as much.

How do you manage a 3 to 5 day trip every month? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

I'm a WOHM and a single mom. A lot of our interaction with other families comes during structured activities - school activities, sports, scouting. We don't do a ton of playdates because my daughter sees her friends from 8-5:30 on school days, and at practices and games and troop meetings. During the summer, we'll go to the pool with 1 or 2 families pretty often. We'll go to BBQs and brunches with other families maybe 1-2 times a month.

The single mom thing means I'm also spending time away from my daughter, with my child-free friends. If I were married and not going out separately, I'd probably do more things with other families.

[Anonymous]

Usually once a weekend. More than that in the summer now that the pool is open. And not counting birthday parties, even though we are not at drop off age, so those usually end up being full family events as well.

[Anonymous]

Wow you all are social. We never do. I wish we would. We are nice people so the only thing I can figure is that we are so many (4 kids) and we are loud and a little adhd as a family, so I am thinking we are a handful to have over. Oh and I don't make any effort to invite anyone over because I am exhausted most of the time when I am not working or cooking and cleaning after our family. But I envy all of you with such and active social life. We do go to the pool sunday afternoons and there are some other families there, that is the extent of our socializing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We usually do a 3-5 day trip with other families (many different, between 1-5 families at a time) at least once a month and otherwise meet up about once or twice a week. We see our childless friends much more often, but don't travel with them as much.

How do you manage a 3 to 5 day trip every month? Just curious.

We each have 5 weeks of vacation time a year, so we use 3 weeks on longer trips (that usually have some portion in which we meet up with other families) and two are used to create long weekends away at least once a month. I have a flexible schedule so I can move time around to deal with the random non-trip days that require a bit of leave. I have a ton of built up sick leave for emergencies.