I’ve often thought that one of the best things about being a parent is getting those moments when you are allowed to forget that you’re a parent for a while. I know that’s not what I’m supposed to say. I’m supposed to say that the best thing about parenting is watching my children sleep, or smelling my newborn’s creamy neck or dancing with my kids in the rain the rain stays mainly on the pla-in.
Yep, all these things are nice, but truly, is there a greater joy than a bunch of mothers on a girls’ night out?
There is no greater joy.
I never realised this when I was young, but you can’t really have a good night out until you’ve experienced lots and lots and lots and lots of rather dull nights in. You don’t know life in bars until you’ve known life behind bars. Or something like that.
The relentlessness of routine and the drip, drip, drip of parenting means that when we’re given permission (by ourselves, of course) to let it all go, man, do we let it all go. We dance with abandon, we drink to pretty much anything and we smile fondly at our falling-down-drunk friend; oh-so-glad it’s not us, but oh-so-glad that one of our kin has forgotten she has to get up at 6 am tomorrow morning for the soccer run. She is slurring drunk on our behalf. She is living with abandon on our behalf. She is a goddess.
We should all get the opportunity to be the falling-down friend on a girls’ night out from time to time. To forget we’re a mum and party with abandon. To forget that yes, yes, yes drinking is bad for us, a public menace and such a bad example to the children. Blah, blah, blah. To live in the moment, to truly get lost in the moment, is a gift that every mum needs from time to time.
So I’m telling you, urging you, prodding you out the door. Call your friends, clear a Saturday night on the calendar and go where the disco ball glitters. Dance, dance, dance ’til your feet fall off and have one too many to drink. If you don’t come home voiceless from screaming songs at each other all night, you’re not doing it right.
Go on, set yourself free. Pretend you’re not a mother and trip the light fantastic. Not only is it one of the best things about parenting, it’s also one of the most important parenting things you can possibly do. Let it all go, just for a little while.
What do you do to set yourself freeeeeeee?
Mrs Woog says
Great post Bron! And I agree so much with it. Dancing into the small hours of the morning is the best. I must do more of it xx
Maxabella says
That said, my feet STILL hurt from a Friday night disco ball moment… the downside… x
Helen K says
The trick for me is to be able to move past my younger child’s ‘You’re out AGAIN???’ ‘You’re ALWAYS going out’ (no, I’m not) ‘I want you to be with me FOREVER!’. Clingy stages are tricky, but if we are spending good time with our kids, it’s important to have some of our own time, isn’t it?
Maxabella says
YES it is! I think parents of the clingons deserve MORE time away from them. I have two total clingons and one mild clingon so I totally get it. They have become much better as they’ve gotten older, but I still deal with the third degree (where are you going? How long will you be gone for? When will you be home? It’s like living with my Dad). ALL the more reason to go out more often and find my dancing feet again. x
Helen K says
ExACTly! x
Natalie @ our parallel connection says
Great idea Bron .. I love a few drinks but I get to the point where I hate feeling out of control and something bad will happen… Has in past and need to avoid that all costs now… But there is room for a few
Maxabella says
Yep, that sounds familiar. I think ‘falling down drunk’ is a relative term. My idea of ‘falling down drunk’ is 3 wines and a spritzer… 🙂
Megan Blandford says
I very much need a dance!
Maxabella says
Then make it happen, my friend! x
Vicki @ Boiled Eggs & Soldiers says
I need to find some friends up here so that I can do that on a regular basis! (I’ve got a girls trip booked with friends from Sydney for a few weeks time so am hanging out for that, disco balls and wine!). x
Maxabella says
It’s hard when you are just starting out again, Vicki. But I have not a doubt in my mind that you’ll be dancing in no time. x
Clare @ clarejlucy says
Preggy lady here needs to wait a few more months before imbibing wine….. Right now my idea of heaven is when the sidekick is out with her daddy and I get the house to myself for an hour.
When the door clicks behind them…..Bliss!!
Clare
Maxabella says
The whole house to yourself is always SO GOOD! Almost as good as dancing… I think one of my big fantasies is having the house to myself OVERNIGHT. How lovely would that be!?! x
JodiGibson (@JFGibsonWriter) says
Yep. Even if it’s just once a year. It must be done. I’m trying to organise one at the moment, but everyone is so damn busy. Argh!
Maxabella says
Grrrrrr… I think our buddies have a tendency to forget how much they need a night out like this. Ditch the obligations and just go already, people!! x
Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says
Sounds like somebody had a great night out 🙂
Maxabella says
True dat! And already planning the next night out!! x
Hugzilla says
LOL this is very timely because I have just been talking with a few girlfriends about doing just that! We have the venue and logistics decided and we just need to pin down a date. I hazard a guess that I will be the very drunk delegate taking one for the team…
Maxabella says
There’s always room for MANY delegates taking one for the team. Good on you for sorting something out and remind the gang that this is IMPORTANT so find a date! x
Dani @ sand has no home says
Oh god, I have not had a girls night out in over 4 years. I had a girls day in a little over a week ago, with the Clare Bowditch sing songing gig, adn that was wonderful, but there was no wine 🙂 My kids are still so very unreliable about night wakings, and I’m still breastfeeding/co-sleeping. Maybe time to night-wean the babe. I can dream xx
Maxabella says
Soon, Dani, soon!!
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
Oh yes I understand completely! I remember all the years at home alone with babies and toddlers and then when my twins started kindy my world suddenly opened up. There were mother’s nights I could go to. New friends to make. It was such a joy to be me again and to have a break from being ‘mum’. Nowadays I can even go away for a weekend without the kids or even longer like our recent 13 days in Tasmania. I still worry about them though. Once a mum, always a mum! 🙂 xo
Amy says
I love this post – my partner and I were only talking about the same thing last night. A break from parenthood and a night dancing is what we are most definitely in need of! x
Maxabella says
It’s just nice to think that we can ‘not’ be a parent if only for a little while…
Mother Down Under says
Yup.
I always end up slightly drunk happy crying when I am out with my mom friends.
It is the best.
Of course getting out is the tricky bit these days! I have been trying to catch up with my mom friends for about a month now…hopefully the stars will align next weekend!
Bec @ The Plumbette says
I’ve never been drunk and I can’t really remember the last time I had my hair down. It’s been a very busy season in my life but I agree that when you’ve lived life behind the bars you know how to party beyond them. Except I haven’t done much partying. This post may just change that. xx
Deb @ inner compass designs says
I will admit it has been a while between proper girls night out like you describe. Now we have mostly dinner out with lots of talking and drinking but rarely reach the dancing or falling down stage lol. Good times.
Vanessa says
Downtime is the best time for me!
stephanie@stephsjoy says
Ah yes, to live in the moment! Last time I had a great boogie was at PB in August with some crazy gals. Oh so fun! And I think my dancing has improved since taking up Zumba too!x
Eva @ The Multitasking Mummy says
Oh yes, I’ve had a few of these nights! Gosh I was sick but I look back and think ‘wow, I had fun.’ I’m off to the USA to see my sister in a couple of weeks and we will both be leaving the kids with our husbands and hit San Diego, child and husband free! I can’t wait!
Maxabella says
Woooohooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Peachy Keen Mumma - Jess says
Some message just popped up saying I haven’t visited you since April! I don’t know why that is! I love your blog! Well – I do know it’s because the only chance I get to read blogs is when my kid naps and most of the time I have been trying to nap when he does because he’s waking me in the night! I’m due for another girl’s night. I was averaging one a month – which I think is great. And you’re right! I do appreciate it more now that I am “behind bars.” Unfortunately my son always knows it’s that night and wakes up with an extra special 1am meltdown. Usually only 15 minutes after I’ve rolled into bed. But I presevere!
Maxabella says
Oh Jess, you KNOW I’ve been there. It’s an incredibly frustrating time of your life, but things will change, I know they will.
Once a month is SUCH a good innings so be patient now that you don’t have as much time to yourself. Next time you finally manage to get out, I’ll be you will be freeeeeee more than ever. x
Courtney says
As a matter of fact, I am heading to a girl’s weekend next weekend. I am so looking forward to it! I am in desperate need of some me time to recharge the batteries. It is so true that we sometimes have to act for ourselves to appreciate things more. Parenthood is so challenging and if you get that chance to breathe, you really have to put all guilts aside and take it!
Maxabella says
How was the weekend!? Fab I’ll bet!!
Kristy @ Loulou Zoo says
Catching up on my reading…and I love this. I must admit I always fall to the voice in my head saying “but you have to get up at 5am tomorrow” and I chicken out on dancing the night away. A nice reminder to just do it sometimes!!! x
Julie @ Off to the park says
I am catching up on reading your lovely posts. Loved this. As a Mum I appreciate nights out with my friends, esp fellow Mummas, who understand what its like to not go out for ages and enjoy the night out even more. I am a little excited to be going on my first girls weekend with a good friend in two weeks. 🙂