9 Tips for a Stress-Free Girl’s Night Out When You Have Kids

Sometimes a night that is supposed to be a blow off steam good time with the ladies turns into a huge ordeal. You’re not alone if you stress out about how your family does without you there for the night. However, you absolutely deserve tonight, and you deserve that it not be plaguing your mind. Here are some tips for keeping track on the family, making sure the dynamic is drama free, and that it is a night that the girls can think back to as a wonderful one whenever they have a stressful moment.

1. Pack for an emergency situation.

Image via TheChanel on Flickr

Here’s a good list of things you can still pack in the purse. If you can put the somewhere that isn’t your purse or wallet, like in an inside coat pocket, a shoe, or sewn in a lining, if you think the night might get real crazy. The rest of them just fall under the “just in case category”. There are some companies that even have made their very own “girl’s night out” kit that are kind of fun.

• emergency cash
• tampons
• a phone charger
• aspirin

2. Give your husband/babysitter an action plan.

Image via C Jan Ducci

Although you swear his competency on the day-to-day, one night out and suddenly your husband strangely loses all knowledge of your daily routine, things like bath times and bedtime routines. Don’t spend the whole night of the phone walking him through how Johnny likes his bedtime peanut butter and jelly snack served.

3. Consider going to a non-traditional ladies night for an interesting time

Image via Mark Scott, Flickr

Don’t think the routine that you always do with the ladies is your only option! Instead, suggest something weird that you’ve always wanted to do. Who knows, it could turn into something magical.

Here are some ideas:

• a painting party
• ethnic food
• a scavenger hunt
• a cookoff
• karaoke competition
• golf
• salsa dancing

4. If you’re going to drink – make sure you have the ride home organized beforehand.

Image via Andrew Hyde

Get your night game set, and take care of yourself. If its calling up your sis and asking for a favor, or pre-programming the cab company number in your phone, to designating one of the girls as a dd, it’s important enough to definitely get a conversation going about.

5. Look impressive as heck.

Image via Matthew Kenwrick on Flickr

Consider this a night to remember the headturner that you can be. Give yourself complete freedom to dress as wild or as sophisticated as you want.

If the night itself could be a great inspiration for a healthy lifestyle change, or an excellent reward. It is sometimes hard to feel motivated to spring yourself back to your former glory when you’re too swamped with momdom to be anything but a frump monster. However, when there’s that moment to feel glamorous, it can seem so much more appealing.

Don’t be tempted to crash diet for the event. Instead, focus on taking healthy steps and making healthy actions instead of looking for drastic results. If you want to use supplements as an aide to your dieting efforts, look for ones with natural ingredients. For example, Hydroxycut uses lady’s mantle, mint extract, and wild olive.

6. Invite someone new

If the girls night is more of a continuing scheduled event, shake it up a little bit and mix the dynamic. Is there a new family in the neighborhood, or a mother of your child’s friend that you’ve wanted to befriend for a while? Invite them to join!

7. Schedule a check-in.

This can be something your kids look forward to in the night, as well as you just letting off some concern about how everything is going. Tell your husband or babysitter that you’ll check in at a specific time, and see how the ship is running.

8. Think up some fun activities for your kids to do, so they aren’t upset about your absence.

Image via Janet on Flickr

If you’re afraid of your kids giving the babysitter a hard time, think up some fun ideas that they can do that will get them more excited about the evening and more focused on a different part of the night. However, don’t make it so complicated that the babysitter gets overwhelmed or is unable to help them.

9. However, don’t micro manage.

Image via Christiana Care

This is about fun. Allow it to be a night of spontaneous decisions, being loud, and making wonderful memories.