Tackling the Holiday Parties (With Kids in Tow)!

0

Holidays bring a lot of holiday gatherings. (Yes, parties!)

There always seems to be plenty of fun events to attend. Family dinners, low key hangouts with friends, office parties, so much fun to choose from!

Some of the parties are just for the adults, so go ahead and get that babysitter (book the sitter early!) and enjoy a fun adult night out!

But, when the kiddos are on the invite list too . . . cue added chaos!

Who is watching which kid? Mom? Dad? Anyone??

There are usually fun festive cocktails, snacks, and adult conversations that parents want to enjoy, which can be difficult when we are worrying about those little ones double-dipping and spilling drinks on that beautiful (and probably expensive) area rug.

Let’s go into this with a plan, shall we? Here are four tips on how to parent together at a party.

#1 – Man-to-Man Defense

Each parent needs to be solely responsible for a particular child.

No zone defense here.

The kids need to be monitored but in a way so that both parents can enjoy the festivities.

If you only have one child then give one parent the night off and then swap roles at the next get together.

For families with two kids, split the duties in half. Man-to-man defense here. Just make sure each parent knows which kiddo they are responsible for before going to the party.

More than two kids?

Be sure you’re dividing responsibilities evenly. Maybe whoever is watching the toddler, also gets to keep an eye out for the more self-sufficient ten-year-old.

You get the idea. Just make sure everyone is on the same page before you leave home.

#2 – Leave the Party When Everyone is Happy

Pick a time frame when the adults feel comfortable leaving.

Do not set an exact time to leave. Instead, pick a window of time. Gauge how the children are doing and leave with everyone smiling.

Abrupt exits tend to bring resistance.

Give the 10-minute warning and enough of a heads up that you will be leaving soon.

When you leave with crying kids, it can ruin the fun for everyone. So pick the time window you know will be good for your children to get home.

#3 – Allow More Junk Food than Usual

Party time is not the time to make sure everyone eats their fruits and veggies.

Try to feed healthy foods before, and then allow a few extra cookies at the party.

There are times for rules to be relaxed, and this is one of those times.

A quick, “Yes” to that third cookie, helps keep the constant cookie requests (after you’ve already said, “no”) to a minimum.

Plus, even us adults tend to eat a little more sweets at the party than a typical day. Am I right?

#4 – Relax & Have Fun!

Check on your kids periodically, but allow yourself time to relax and enjoy the party.

Your kids probably won’t be the only kids at the party. And remember, everyone is (usually) more worried about their own kid than yours.

So relax, ensure your kids aren’t coloring on the walls, and enjoy the party!

Go in with a plan

Holiday parties are fun, but they can become a bit more hectic with kids in tow.

These tips will help you and your partner to develop a game plan for parenting at a holiday party like a pro.

With a simple strategy, you’ll be enjoying friends, family, and maybe even that third cookie of your own.