With everything we moms have to do, making time for our friends seems impossible. Were lucky if we have time to do more than shoot them an occasional email, and its likely that our friends feel like theyre in the same boat.

But have you noticed that your children are happier when theyve had a chance to play with others? That somehow we find the time to schedule play dates for them?

We moms are the same way. We need our friends to make us laugh, share our troubles and just keep us connected to the world beyond children and work. The good news is that if we schedule time to be with our friends well be more likely to keep the appointments and come back feeling refreshed and better able to deal with our family and work responsibilities.

So are you ready for some great ideas for play dates for moms? Here are five that are sure to delight and invigorate you and your friends.

1. Start A Birthday Club. Get together with your friends to celebrate each others birthdays. But dont just stop there. Someone, somewhere is having a birthday every month, so take advantage of it. Schedule a birthday celebration every month to get together with your friends for lunch or dinner. Make it clear to all that presents arent part of the celebration. Being together is the best gift of all and the pressure of finding and spending money on presents wont be an issue.

2. Think About A Cooking Club. This is a great idea for both creative cooks and budget-strapped moms. Each month, let one friend do the cooking for the bunch. You can trade houses and everyone gets a chance to contribute and to relax letting someone else do the cooking for a change. Try different ethnic cuisines and, to keep it interesting, ask everyone to dress as they would if they lived in that country. Dont like to cook? Thats why they invented the deli!

3. Schedule Spa Days. Who doesnt love getting the spa treatment? You and your friends can meet at a local spa for massages and/or facials. Getting manicures and pedicures are also a great way to be together and have a marvelous time. If finances dont permit, get together at a friends house and do each others fingernails and toenails. Youll have a wonderful time, and this is certain to be a crowd pleaser with lots and lots of laughs included.

4. Can You Say Book Club? Book Clubs are still all the rage, and for good reason. People love to share what theyre reading and what they think about it. They offer you and your friends the opportunity to get together and share your ideas and a bottle of wine or two. Book Clubs offer an endless variety of subjects and topics to choose from, so call up your friends and schedule a Book Club play date today!

5. Scrapbook Away, Ladies. Yes, get some scrapbooking supplies together and have a scapbooking party. Throw some Sangria into the mix and this is a definite play date your friends will want to have over and over. Which is the point a play date scrapbook. Each time you get together, everyone can make a page for their scrapbook to memorialize the time you spend together. Not only will you and your friends have tons of fun, youll have something from your play date to keep and cherish.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ideas for play dates for moms. Use this list as a starting point to spark some creative ideas of your own. The important thing is to schedule that play date with your friends today and keep it! You need it, and so do they!

Copyright 2006 Karen Fusco