I prioritize keeping in touch with my three closest friends - we text most days and I meet with each of them at least once a month for a walk or lunch. We socialize with neighborhood families maybe two or three times a month, usually casual all-family hangouts.

I've been doing the same workout for a few years and am friendly with some of the people there, so seeing them regularly is also good social time.

I have a music group that gets together once a week using an internet program (keeping the entire rehearsal to 1 hour including “transportation” time). I have acquaintances at church, and I have a few former classmates whom I see 1-2 times a year even though they live in the area. If it weren’t for music and church I’d be pretty socially isolated except for work.

I socialize a lot! Its a priority to me. Usually one weeknight per week and one weekend night. My husband is supportive because it makes me so happy to be with my friends.

Anonymous wrote:Parents of elementary school kids, what is your social life like? I work full-time, including in the office 3 days a week, and have my kids in activities, so I really only socialize if it is on the weekend and in my neighborhood, generally with other families. I have grown apart from some friends who like to do stuff during the week and live about 25 minutes away because I just can't swing that, particularly on a day I go to the office. Is this pretty normal?

Normal while kids are in ES (your life revolves around them and their activities). When they are in upper ES grades and MS, we started a mom's book group, and if you can't make it one month it's no big deal, if one or two didn't read the book it's no big deal, it's a night out with friends and food. We always discuss the book for at least half the time, and then on to other things.

OP this is us. Preschooler and ES kids. We socialize a lot with other families via school or neighborhood. Some have become good friends.

1-2x a month I see my old friends - either in the evening or sometimes lunch/coffee by my office or WFH. It's not ideal but it's a busy phase of life.

I have a book club once a month, have breakfast with a friend once a month, have two friends with kids with whom we go on an outing about once a month, and one long distance friend who I see yearly. I would love more spontaneous get togethers but people are planners. Also note that DH has no involvement with any of this and likes it that way.

Op here. This is interesting! Thanks for sharing. I do have a spouse who would be happy to facilitate me going out. One factor I didn't mention is my youngest has ADHD and ASD so hauling him to a sibling's activity while one parent is off is pretty hard for him/the other parent.

Maybe I will be more intentional about my social life in 2025. I was feeling bummed because I have a few friends who have definitely written me off because I don't make these weekday gatherings.

Book club once a month. I workout with friends most weekends, which is a social activity for me. We invite friends over for dinner quite frequently and send the kids to the basement after dinner. I also go on girls' trips annually.

I host my board game group once a month. I text with my best friend daily (she has a baby). I've become a lot closer to my one friend with a similar age kid because the two of them can play together.

Anonymous wrote:Our weekends are packed with scheduled activities and social ones. We go out at night with friends. Once or twice a week each of us go out - the other will stay home with the kids.

Are these friends with kids or without? That seems like a lot of socializing. How old are your own children? Do you both work? Do you ever go out together?

I go out to dinner with friends maybe 1x month. I go out with my spouse maybe 2x month. I am friendly with many parents of my kids friends and I see that at kids activities weekly. We sit on the side lines and chat.

I text with my pre-kid friends regularly. Occasional video calls. I do a girls weekend get away once or twice a year.

Im not a very extroverted person so this is fine for me.

Anonymous wrote:Our weekends are packed with scheduled activities and social ones. We go out at night with friends. Once or twice a week each of us go out - the other will stay home with the kids.

You go out twice a week solo with friends? How often do you do date nights with spouse?

Our weekends are packed with scheduled activities and social ones. We go out at night with friends. Once or twice a week each of us go out - the other will stay home with the kids.

I mostly keep up with friends via text at this point.

We have a few good friends who also have kids and we try to get together with one of them a few times a month and that helps.

Last night I went and had two drinks with a few friends for about 2 hours at a bar, without my kids or spouse. I do that once or twice a year (sadly, not an exaggeration). It only partly because of childcare -- DH and I are always happy to facilitate the other doing something like that. It's more because I am so tired and it's really hard for me to rally for a night like that (to be clear, I was home by 8pm).

My social life is seeing people at my kids' activities. Occasionally, I'll see friends outside of that, but rarely.