LilSugar

Are Your Mommy Friends Your Couple Friends?

babysugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0800

Make new friends, but keep the old . . . The Girl Scouts knew what they were talking about especially when it comes to mommy friends.

Once a woman has a baby, she actively seeks out other mamas with like-aged lil ones of their own. Knowing moms who are simultaneously going through the same things you are – sleepless nights, teething and spitting up to name a few – makes the journey easier and can help provide a reality check for first-time moms. Making these "mommy friends" often requires a lot of work – introducing yourself to them on the playground, attending "new mom luncheons," or going on "blind dates" arranged by caring friends.

But do you take the friendships to the next level and make "couple dates" with your new-found friends? There often seems to be a divide where women keep their mom friends separated into playdate and moms' night out scenarios, never taking it to the dating scene.

Tell us, do you go on couples dates with your mommy friends?

Do Working Mothers Choose to Give Up Their Leisure Time?

LilSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:00:59 -0800

If a man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done, then a working mother has no chance. Though all moms could use a break from their activities for a little "mom-me time," there is little doubt that those who work outside the home have smaller windows of opportunity to do something for themselves.

In an interesting article in The Washington Post, a working mom took a hard look at her life to see exactly where her time goes. After seeing that she didn't have any for herself, she turned to Rachel Connelly, a labor economist at Bowdoin College to determine why. Connelly explained:

The revolutionary change of women entering the work force - 47 percent of mothers of school-age children worked in 1975, compared with 71 percent in 2007, according to federal statistics - coincided, she said, with intensified expectations of what it takes to be a good parent, particularly in middle-class families. But there are still only 24 hours in a day. To make it all fit, mothers slacked off on housework and gave up their personal leisure to spend their limited free time with their kids.

“My mother was home all day, so on the weekend, what did she want to do? Get away from us as fast as she possibly could and take my father with her. They went out every Saturday night. But now, mothers are employed. We see it as essential that we spend time with our kids. We don’t want to be away from them. On the other hand, we’re never away from them.”

Do you give up any personal time you may have to spend it with your kids, or do you find time to carve out some time for yourself?

No Excuses! 15 Simple Suggestions For Mom-Me Time

LilSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:00:26 -0800

Making time for yourself is never easy, but it should always be a priority. I wish I could be with my children every waking moment (and watch them while they sleep), but it's important for their development, my growth as a mother and my relationship with my husband that I get alone time to decompress every once in a while. Here are some of my favorite ways to relax, celebrate my mommy-hood, adulthood and, well, me. I hope you are inspired to take a little time for yourself too!

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When the Kids Are Away, How Does Mom Play?

babysugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:30:30 -0700

Mommy's doing the cabbage patch and singing out loud, "They're gone... they're gone... they're gone." The opportunity for some mom-me time may not come around that often so when mama finds herself free of kids, hubby and other responsibilities, she can do whatever her heart desires. Perhaps she has planned a Mexican getaway to celebrate a 30th birthday or maybe she's just eager for a night out on the town. But one thing seems to be common among many mothers... their party bark is bigger than their bite.

Many ladies talk up a big game of sipping cocktails and staying up until the wee hours of the morn but in reality, many spend their time catching up with friends on the couch or playing Guitar Hero and sneaking into bed earlier than expected. The fear of hangovers may be to blame or perhaps it is their internal clocks ticking to a settled routine that keeps mommies from playing too hard.

How do you play when the kids are away?

Mom-Me Time: Get Involved in LilSugar's Community Groups!

LilSugar — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:00:01 -0700

You've waited in line for your son's soccer jersey, penciled your daughter's art classes onto the calendar, and shuttled your kids to karate. Now that their Fall activities are in full swing, take a few mom-me moments to do the same for yourself. LilSugar's Community offers a place for mothers to hang out, vent, brainstorm, and showcase their talents. What fits your fancy? Check out and join some of our hottest groups!

The Children's Table: Whether you've got kids with pint-sized palates that appreciate culinary cuisine or children that only eat chicken nuggets and french fries, share your recipes, tips and tricks.

The Mommy Club: If you have an offspring, you're eligible for this club where moms can chat about everything from the terrible twos to sleep deprivation to those ah-ha! moments.

Pregnancy Posse: Congratulations - you're expecting! Connect with all the other mamas growing babies in their bellies. Share your experience, ask questions, and dole out advice to the rest of the bumpalicious ladies.

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me?: Tell us your shocking, funny, embarrassing, and insightful tales that you wish you had known becoming a mother!

Sugarbabies: Parents love to dote on their lil darlings. Showcase your beautiful bundle of joy by uploading their fun, fabulous, candid, and adorable pics! And, go ahead - brag a bit!

Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Mother Runs Errands to Buy Herself Some Alone Time

LilSugar — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:00:43 -0700

Few people would consider grocery shopping or dropping off the dry cleaning to be the highlight of their weeks, but for mamas who find themselves shuttling the kids from school, play dates, and birthday parties, such mundane tasks are a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

A friend was recently telling me that she looks forward to leaving the house for 20 minutes to run such errands because she knows she is guaranteed at least a few minutes of time alone to gather her thoughts, call a friend for an uninterrupted conversation, or just enjoy letting her mind wander.

Do you savor tasks that buy you a bit of kid-free time?

Mommies Need a Girls' Night Out

babysugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0700

To quote Wynonna Judd, "Well, it's my night to rock. No watchin' that ol' clock. Oh, ain't no doubt, Lordy it's a girls' night out." Many moms enjoy an all female fete where they can let their hair down and free their mind of pacifiers and diapers. Putting dad or grandma on duty can provide mama a much needed break from the every day routine of dinner, bath and bedtime. The hard part is usually the recovery the next morning if she's had one too many 'tinis. How often do you meet up with your girlfriends for a ladies' night?

If you need some inspiration, join our Moms Gone Wild group - a place to plan your nights out with fellow ladies, share your wild child-free moments and upload photos!

Need a Break? Book a Girlfriend Getaway

LilSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:00:49 -0700

Pack your bags and don't look back. When some mothers need a break from their daily routine, they plan a night out with friends. Others look for a more extended escape, they gather their friends together for an overnight retreat.

Recent studies show that female bonding activities can help manage stress and may contribute to longer lives. Many women are taking a cue from these studies and booking excursions to spas, beaches and shopping destinations across the country and abroad. Unlike family vacations to similar locations, women find that traveling to these locales allow them to reconnect with friends and leave stress behind. The practice has become so popular that Budget Travel magazine recently launched a supplement specifically for this audience called Girlfriend Getaways.

For our 30th birthdays, my former college roommates and I celebrated with a relaxing long weekend in Mexico. Used to carting a diaper bag and my kids, it was wonderful to adjust to all six of us sharing one bag for the beach. After a few days of uninterrupted conversation, lounging by the pool and toasting rounds of cocktails, I returned home to my husband and children revived and ready to be mom again. Now, I'm counting down to our 35th birthday trip!

Do you indulge in girlfriend getaways?

Moms' Night Out: Sweats and the City

LilSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:13:51 -0700

If a flashback to pre-baby days sounds like more than your mom friends can handle, throw something a bit more low-key. Invite the ladies over for a Sweats and the City event. There's no primping or planning involved. Leave the lil darlings with daddy and head over to the host's house for a meeting of the mamas. This kickback fete is all about lounging and relaxing.

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Moms' Night Out: Flashback to Pre-Baby Days

LilSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Kiss the hubby and kids goodbye and head out the door for a few hours of freedom! Everybody needs a break, but lots of mothers don't take the time to indulge themselves so we're giving hardworking women some inspiration to get the girls together for a Moms' Night Out! If want to revisit your past, organize a Flashback to Pre-Baby Days soiree complete with adult food, games and conversation.

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