Photo courtesy of Monica Benjamin
I didn’t fully appreciate the importance of playdates for parents until I became one myself. Getting together with other families who have kids around your child’s age — letting the kids play while you get some grown-up conversation — feels pretty magical. But let me tell you what might be even more magical: parent playdates without the kids.
Every Thursday, I have the privilege of getting together with a group of friends to move our bodies and reconnect. In the winter months, we head to the Snow Bowl to skin up the mountain (yes, we literally hike uphill with skis on — surprisingly fun!) and then enjoy a few lift runs. When the weather warms up, you’ll find us paddle boarding on Lake Dunmore, running or walking on the TAM, or finding some other way to be active around town.
These Thursday evenings are sacred. My husband and my daughter know that on Thursdays, starting around 5:15 pm, Mom is off duty — they’ll see me in the morning. After our exercise, we usually linger for food, drinks and unhurried conversation. I look forward to Thursdays all week.
It’s a powerful reminder that as parents, we need time to play with our friends too. I am without a doubt a better parent because of this time — more patient, more present and more myself. So don’t hesitate to make a playdate with your friends. It’s not selfish: it’s essential, and well worth your time. After all, kids shouldn’t be the only ones who get to have fun playing.
— Monica Benjamin is a nurse practitioner at Porter Pediatrics in Middlebury.