The 25 Stages of Hosting a Group Playdate

It's best to be prepared.

They oblige, but you have a sneaky feeling they're conning you.

He can't wait to show his friend every single one of his toys, which results in tons of noise.

You can tell that the other moms can't wait to leave their kids with you to get some "me time."

There are toys and children everywhere.

This is immediately followed by kids climbing the shelves in your pantry like a scene out of Jumanji.

You accept that there will be Cheerios and Goldfish in every crevice of your home.

Disciplining other parents' kids is super awkward, so you try to be diplomatic. It doesn't work.

So you show them where the bathroom is and ask if they can do everything all by themselves.

A kid who had previously confirmed that she could do everything by herself . . . but didn't realize wiping counted.

You just hope your kid isn't the cause.

Why is sharing such a hard concept?

Until one of the kids follows you over there and your efforts prove futile.

So much for keeping this playdate to the toys you laid out.

This is something you never imagined doing before you had kids.

He says it's "wintertime at the train station."

After you've prepared what they asked for, they collectively decide that they want something else.

You try to turn him down, but now every kid has caught wind of it and wants to play with it.

And you're wondering why you even bothered trying to plan this thing out.

It feels like you've been at this for hours.

You're not panicking! You totally love it when kids make a mess of your house, and you're not stressed at all.

This is a lie.

Again: exhausted but trying to look like you have it together.

But you don't want to promise that his friends will be back soon. Because there is just no way.

Ever.