Before Kids Vs. After: A Night Out On The Town

No matter how old you are, sometimes you need a night to break loose from the demands and routine of everyday life and just have fun. Back in the days before you had a partner or children, you regularly used to paint the town red, but these days you can’t even remember where you left your brush. Parents can still manage to take have a night away from their kids, but preparing for and enjoying a night out once you’re a parent is very different from how it was back in your child free days.

 Pregaming.

Before kids

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You turn on your Getting Ready playlist to get yourself excited while you do your hair, but not until 8 pm at the earliest because the bar is empty until at 9 pm. You skip dinner, choosing instead to sip on a cup of something spirited and vaguely cherry flavored while you do your makeup. If you’re a planner, you set yourself up for later in the night with a bottle of water, sleeve of crackers and some aspirin on the nightstand. If you’re more laid back, you take your drink into the shower with you.

After kids

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You turn on whatever DVD will hold your kids attention the longest so that you can have time alone to do your hair and makeup. Even though you’re headed out to eat, you make a box of macaroni and cheese for the babysitter to feed the kids. If you’re type A you sneak a few bites for yourself so you won’t be starving by the time you get to the restaurant, since you usually eat around 5 pm and your reservation isn’t until 7 pm. If you’re laid back you just leave money for the sitter to order pizza and plan on destroying the first bread basket you see tonight.

Outfit Selection.

Before kids

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You choose an outfit based on how well it highlights the body feature you think is your most flattering, forgoing considerations of things like the outside temperature or how comfortable those heels are all in the name of fashion.

After kids

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Any pair of pants with a zipper feels fancy, and you’re super excited to wear earrings without fear that the baby will pull them out. As long as you’re wearing clothes that are clean, you feel a bit like Princes Kate. You’re used to planning for every possible disaster as a mom so you bring a sweater in case you get chilly and pack a pair of sensible flats in your purse to change into if your feet start to hurt during dinner.

While you’re out.

Before kids

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You try and have fun, but are distracted by your phone because you are really hoping that cute coworker who said they might text you actually does.

After kids.

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You try and have fun, but are distracted by checking your phone every few minutes just in case the babysitter calls about a problem at home.

Going home.

Before kids.

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You boo along with your friends when the lights come on after last call, then walk to the dinner to rehash the night over some pancakes before going home and falling into bed without setting an alarm.

After kids.

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You make it through dinner only to realize that you’re too tired to stay awake for the whole movie. Besides, if you take this dessert to go, you can get home to relieve the babysitter and snuggle up on the couch with some comfy pants and Netflix, and still get to bed at a decent hour, since you know the kids will be up early as usual tomorrow, even if it is Sunday.

(image: antoniodiaz/Shutterstock)

 

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