playdate

[Anonymous]

How do you politely decline playdates? Or if you are at a mother's day event at school and another mother asks for a playdate but you don't think it's a good idea, what do you say? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Why do you think it’s a bad idea?

[Anonymous]

In person you can say “Sure, sounds great” then you can move on to talking about something else before you exchange contact info.

If you do exchange contact info and the mom asks about a specific date, you can say “I have to check the calendar - these next few weeks are super busy for us.”

Most people will take a hint that you’re not interested just by signaling “busy.” It’s not necessary to directly decline.

[Anonymous]

Thank you but we are not interested.

I suppose it is a bit more tricky if you have had other playdates with kids and the other family knows it. You might want to think of a polite answer if they ask why. And it might even be that your kid us not into the other kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In person you can say “Sure, sounds great” then you can move on to talking about something else before you exchange contact info.

If you do exchange contact info and the mom asks about a specific date, you can say “I have to check the calendar - these next few weeks are super busy for us.”

Most people will take a hint that you’re not interested just by signaling “busy.” It’s not necessary to directly decline.

That’s ridiculous. You are an adult. Be direct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In person you can say “Sure, sounds great” then you can move on to talking about something else before you exchange contact info.

If you do exchange contact info and the mom asks about a specific date, you can say “I have to check the calendar - these next few weeks are super busy for us.”

Most people will take a hint that you’re not interested just by signaling “busy.” It’s not necessary to directly decline.

That’s ridiculous. You are an adult. Be direct.

NP. No. Don’t be direct. That’s really uncomfortable. I would follow the first PP’s advice. I’ve done it many times! And people have done it to me. No biggie.

[Anonymous]

“I am going to have to decline your offer” ... lol.

[Anonymous]

I think the answer depends on why you think its a bad idea. If the reason is that the kids have not been playing well together, I'd decline and be honest about that reason.

If it is something about the mom/house etc., I'd be more likely to take the "busy" route.

[Anonymous]

I was always direct. “Let’s hold off for now - it doesn’t seem like the girls are enjoying each other’s company right now.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“I am going to have to decline your offer” ... lol.

Was gonna say the same thing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In person you can say “Sure, sounds great” then you can move on to talking about something else before you exchange contact info.

If you do exchange contact info and the mom asks about a specific date, you can say “I have to check the calendar - these next few weeks are super busy for us.”

Most people will take a hint that you’re not interested just by signaling “busy.” It’s not necessary to directly decline.

That’s ridiculous. You are an adult. Be direct.

Agree. These people are ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In person you can say “Sure, sounds great” then you can move on to talking about something else before you exchange contact info.

If you do exchange contact info and the mom asks about a specific date, you can say “I have to check the calendar - these next few weeks are super busy for us.”

Most people will take a hint that you’re not interested just by signaling “busy.” It’s not necessary to directly decline.

That’s ridiculous. You are an adult. Be direct.

NP. No. Don’t be direct. That’s really uncomfortable. I would follow the first PP’s advice. I’ve done it many times! And people have done it to me. No biggie.

And then people come on here (or in your neighborhood) and complain about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In person you can say “Sure, sounds great” then you can move on to talking about something else before you exchange contact info.

If you do exchange contact info and the mom asks about a specific date, you can say “I have to check the calendar - these next few weeks are super busy for us.”

Most people will take a hint that you’re not interested just by signaling “busy.” It’s not necessary to directly decline.

That’s ridiculous. You are an adult. Be direct.

NP. No. Don’t be direct. That’s really uncomfortable. I would follow the first PP’s advice. I’ve done it many times! And people have done it to me. No biggie.

So you would say “sure, sounds great” when you have no intention of arranging for it? And then you will have the person follow up a couple of times because they believed you?

[Anonymous]

It is probably rare that I would think a play date is a bad idea, but if I did, i would probably just say I have to check our schedule.

Then I might invite the person to more of a larger group activity at a park or playground instead of a one on one play date so I still got back to them about doing something.

[Anonymous]

My son absolutely loves this girl at his preschool and begs to have her come over all the time. I finally reached out to the parents with a couple weekend options we were free.

She wrote back and said they had no free time for 2 entire months.

Anyway, I don't know the parents well at all, so it was hard to be offended, but you can bet I most certainly took the hint...