Mommy's Time Out
Entertaining
11
Ah, the joys of motherhood. (And aunthood, and grand-motherhood!) It’s hard work being the center of the universe to your small people! We all know that a time-out is good for our kiddos to calm down and regroup. Well, sometimes it’s good for Mom to get a time-out, too! But for you, Mom, it doesn’t mean standing in the corner with your nose to the wall – it’s much more fun.
Pick an evening when you can drop the kids at grandma’s or when dad can entertain the kids somewhere with a play place. Dads and kids could also gather at someone else’s house for pizza and movies while you’re hosting the mamas at your place – as long as they promise not to leave a mess behind for Mama! Invite a handful of other mamas, aunties, and honoraries to come over for a relaxed evening of snacks, drinks, and girl talk without husbands or kids.
Here’s a shortlist of how and what:
1.Snacks: go easy: a variety of chips and dips, fruit and veg trays, even a couple pizzas or Chinese take-out would do. This is a time-out for mommy, so don’t go crazy working yourself into a tizzy over this get together. Paper plates and napkins are just fine!
2.Desserts: think single serve. A box of cream puffs or eclairs from the freezer section; mini cookies, brownies or cupcakes from the bakery – even cannoli if you can find them fresh; or some pre-washed, pre-cut fruit like pineapple, grapes, strawberries and melon alongside some cubes of pound cake and a bowl of melty chocolate fondue. Just put it all on a pretty platter to serve.
3.Drinks: Drinks should be as easy as the food, so put it out on the counter and make it a self-serve bar; whether you choose to serve alcohol or not is up to you.
Non-alcoholic drinks: iced tea, mocktails if you’re up for them (frozen daquiris are fun!), soda, bottles of sparkling or flat water, and of course, hot tea and coffee.
Wines: pick your favorites! Ask others to bring their favorite to share. Mosacato is delightful if you like sweet; choose a d’asti if you also like bubbles in your sweet. (Here’s a fun trick: put a bag of frozen pineapple in a two-quart pitcher or carafe; pour a bottle of moscato d’asti over it and serve. It’s delicious!)
Ask for suggestions from the sommelier when purchasing wines if you’d like to try something new but aren’t sure about the options and flavor profiles.
4.Music: Everyone should have a playlist of their favorite songs; the ones that make you feel happy and content and recall memories that make you smile. Put this playlist on in the background to set the mood for fun with your girlfriends. Throw in a few songs from your high school days and see how many of your friends crack a smile or have a story to share from those good ol’ days.
5.Time: Let your husbands know what time you need them and the kids out of the house by, and what time you and the girls plan to wrap things up. Enjoy every minute of your time-out, because you’ve earned it, Mama!
RH
Note: Be sure that anyone who’s drinking has a ride home, or offer them your guest room or sofa.