[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

My biggest peeve about "playdates" is that 9 out of 10 times, it is the parent that calls to arrange it. Usually a day or two in advance.

I refuse to call my son's friends- he is almost 8, he can read, he can dial a phone. If he wants to play with his friends, then he can figure it out himself.

I also refuse to play the "status playdate" game- I am not arranging playdates with people just because they are at the top of the mommy clique at school. If my kids are friends with their kids, then great, if not, it's not a big loss and I'm not going to jockey my kid into a friendship so it makes me feel better about myself.

This is funny because I was JUST talking to my friend about playdates and she was discussing how annoying they are.

Her husband actually told me that the whole "playdate" culture is very much based on who the PARENTS want to hang out with (moreso than the kids, who are not in the age range to be able to choose anyway).

Example: Friend became friends with another mom via planning an event for the preschool class. Since they were friends, she asked if maybe they could set up a playdate. Mom said they were busy. Two weeks later, Friend finds out that Mom had a playdate that same weekend with another couple (who happens to have a home movie theatre in their basement and two tennis courts). So often, parents plan playdates with the parents who THEY are more interested in hanging out with.

She also discussed how kids birthday party invites are the same way. Certain moms only invite certain kids to their kid's parties based on the ADULTS they want to be there. Example: Dad will invite Suzie to Katie's 1st birthday party because Suzie's Dad has that awesome timeshare in Martha's Vineyard and they want to be invited to their annual excursion this summer.