I typically do things like this as a family but decided to text some of my son’s friends’ moms letting them know we’re planning to go to X festival Sunday if anyone wants to meet up. This way I can keep my own timing and plans but also invite others, connect socially.

We'll sometimes figure out our plans then ask a couple of families we know well and like if they want to join us... sometimes it works out and becomes a multi-family trip, but more often we just end up doing our plan on our own. It's hard to coordinate schedules without someone missing a sports practice/game or other EC activity, so we don't bother trying, we just say "here's what we're doing if you'd like to join us", though occasionally we will adapt if someone says they'd like to but need to be back by X time or go on Sunday instead of Saturday or whatever. And generally find that if you do that a few times, eventually the other family reciprocates and invites you to something as well.

So we still do ~2/3 of such stuff as a nuclear family, but occasionally are able to make it a shared experience, which is fun when it can happen.

There's no hard and fast rule. We do whatever works for us, our schedule, etc.

We've also done them with a family friend who doesn't have kids(godparent). It's a nice way for her to some time in our family's life, but she's not juggling a dozen other holiday family commitments, so she can just show up for lights.

I prefer it to be just our family so it's less hectic. Sometimes I'll let another family know about our outing so they can meet us there if they want.

It varies. My spouse and I both do shift work and work different hours so it can be hard. I think generally I do more with friends; we also have an only so that way she has friends to run around with too.

Thanks all, just thinking ideally again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you go to seasonal things like pumpkin farms, Christmas light shows together as a family or with friends? Lately I have been wondering if it's just more fun to do all of these things with a group of parent friends rather than our nuclear family. I think I'm itching to make "family friend" connections.

Typically as a family. Honestly I find it too much work to try to coordinate with another family.

+1. I like the idea of doing them with other families, but coordinating especially around busy holiday seasons is hard.

We do these seasonal activities and have found some are better for multi family outings than others:

-Places that will likely be crowded are best visited as a nuclear family. Think holiday markets or fall festivals. It's hard to talk to the parents and the kids are pulling in different directions. More people = more chaos. I put Cox Farm in this category too since that place is such a zoo.

-Apple picking, fall foliage hikes, spring picnic in the National Arboretum: these are much more conducive to interaction with other parents. The activities are simple but pleasurable, there's a lot of space for kids to run around, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Do you go to seasonal things like pumpkin farms, Christmas light shows together as a family or with friends? Lately I have been wondering if it's just more fun to do all of these things with a group of parent friends rather than our nuclear family. I think I'm itching to make "family friend" connections.

Typically as a family. Honestly I find it too much work to try to coordinate with another family.

Do you go to seasonal things like pumpkin farms, Christmas light shows together as a family or with friends? Lately I have been wondering if it's just more fun to do all of these things with a group of parent friends rather than our nuclear family. I think I'm itching to make "family friend" connections.