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The 25 Stages of Hosting a Group Playdate

What to Know About Hosting a Playdate

The 25 Stages of Hosting a Group Playdate

June 23, 2017 by Alessia Santoro

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Everyone knows that the coolest mom on the block is always the one who hosts the best playdates. As your kids get older and more independent, inviting a bunch of your child's friends into your home seems like a piece of cake. But if you've ever tried to be that supermom attempting to wrangle a bunch of kids whose mission in life seems to be destroying your home, you know just how wrong that assumption can be.

Scroll through for the 25 stages of hosting a playdate with multiple children.

You get toys out for sharing and prepare a few easy-to-eat snacks.

You remind your children to be on their best behavior.

The first kid arrives, and your child loses it within seconds.

With toys flying across the room, you welcome the rest of the group.

As all the moms leave, you turn to see the disaster already unfolding.

You ask if anyone wants a snack so you can get them all sitting at the table.

You give every kid a snack, but they refuse to sit at the table.

The first toy argument ensues.

Meanwhile, across the room, someone announces they need to pee.

One minute later you’re wiping the tush of a kid you’ve just met.

You hear screaming and crying in the next room and brace yourself for what’s to come.

After reprimanding your child for stealing toys, you allow everyone to get back to playing.

You attempt to clean part of the room that the kids have wandered away from.

Someone finds the art supplies, which you realize as a tube of glitter goes flying across the floor.

While you’re cleaning up the glitter, another child calls you to wipe them.

While you are occupied, one of the children takes it upon himself to pile toy trains in the refrigerator.

Seeing you in the kitchen reminds every child that they’re hungry again, and you’re doling out round two of snacks.

Your child asks you if he can take out the messiest toy he owns.

You have an out-of-body experience as you look around the room trying to envision what your floors used to look like.

You’re starting to crack as you wait for the parents to retrieve their kids.

The first mom comes to grab her kid, but you make it look like you totally have it together.

You tell the mom — who looks half horrified, half grateful that she's not you — that yes, of course you can host again soon.

You start cleaning up again as the rest of the moms show up.

Your child starts to cry because his friends are leaving.

You close the door, declare it’s screen time, and vow to never have another playdate like that ever again.

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