Ideas on How to Write an Invitacion.

I wouldn't be able to go without my kids. Too expensive right now to get a sitter. We didn't even get one for our anniversary. Talk to a couple moms with teenagers to see if they can entertain the kids in another room (or better yet, outside). Or invite the husbands, and send them out with the kids! Then all the moms would be SURE to accept your invite! I would! I seriously think the husbands would do it, too, because they'd go to watch their kids, but might be reluctant to just "get together" like women like to do. Tell them there will be beer if you have to ;-) Do it on a weekend, maybe Sunday afternoon. Accept that not everyone will be able to make it, but go with what you get! Get everyone's email address and start a Yahoo group (so easy) for your neighborhood. Then anyone can write a message to the whole group, and you all will stay in touch.

for some moms, NOT bringing the kids may not be an option. is your get together worth having to find, schedule and pay for a sitter?

i say bring them all. it's a great way to strike up conversations and group people because the kids will naturally gravitate to one another, forcing the moms to as well.

i also would vote for a pot-luck type party. as gracious as you are for wanting to host this, feeding 13 families, even if its just snacks, is a lot of time, effort, and money. and, once again, it gets everybody involved which is ultimately your goal anyway. let everyone pitch in. ask them to bring recipe cards so that if somebody loves a particular dish they can get a card, and make it themselves. OR... now that i am thinking about it. if EVERYONE did this and brought enough for everyone, you could have them put contact info on the back of the recipe and then everyone can exchange. piece of cake!

:)

sounds like a fun idea... i wish i had other moms in my area. well, i wish i had anyone in my area. LOL.

It will be hard from Mom's that have kids at home and not in school because everyone can't afford a sitter. If you do it during the week a lot of the kids would probably be in Day Care or School. If you do it on the weekend include the entire families. A fun way to get to know your neighbors is to have a neighborhood cook out. If you can afford it you buy the hot dogs and hamburgers. Then ask each family to bring their favorite dish. You might not get to talk to each Mom or have a sit down. But the great thing is your Husbands get to know each other at the same time. Also the women are more apt to come if everyone is invited.

But if you want to stick to just Moms I would do it during the week. Like a Tuesday or Wed. Those are normally the two days of the week that people are the least busy. Make little flyers announcing the get together. You can print them off your computer. I would word it something like this.

Your invited to a Lady's Fun Day
Date:
Time:
Please bring your favorite dish and favorite story about your child.

Then you can go from there. Like if you want to do nails, etc... A lot of women have nail painting parties, etc...

Don't be surprised if only a couple of them show up but it's a start. I have lived here for 15 years and am close friends with two of my neighbors. I know two of them and we speak. The rest I can't even tell you their names. I found that in Florida it is very hard to make friends. Nothing like Michigan. In Michigan it is very easy to make friends.

So anyway hope this advice helps.

Call it a Mom's Night Out and ask that everyone bring either an appetizer or dessert to share. You can provide the drinks or have them bring their own.

I'd keep it simple and to the point:

You're invited to a mom's night out meet and greet!

Date: XXXXXX
Time: XXXXXX
Location: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Come join us for an evening of moms-only food and drinks so that we can make new connections for play dates, share the latest and greatest resources in our neighborhood, and (most of all) make contact with other moms of toddlers in our neighborhood!

RSVP by XX/XX/XX to XXXXXXXXX at XXX-XXX-XXXX
Food and drinks will be provided, but all additions are welcome!

I think it gives a bad impression to invite them for the first time to a "no kids" event. I would not be able to attend myself nor would I even really bother because I wouldn't want to pay for a sitter for someone I didn't even know. I say you invite everyone to a day at the park! If you really want to get to know each other, your kids should as well. they will play and entertain themselves and you will still get a chance to talk. Order pizza and be done with it! This just seems like a more likely scenerio and it is cool that you have so many families in your neighborhood. Have fun!

first of all- i want to move to your block! you are lucky to have other moms and kids so close- sounds like fun.
as far as the invitations go- i'd go with a fun "mommy's day off/ night out" theme.
another idea: in case the baby-sitting is tough to come by in your area - you could consider hiring your 10 year old and a couple of other "tweens" for the neighborhood to have a little play date and take care of the little ones in another room or area of the house. that way no one is left out due to child care. (could be especially important in these tough economic times)
a mexican "fiesta" is an inexpensive way to entertain- and fun too- invitations could read- "take a siesta from your mommy duties- come join the fiesta....."
unless these women are all close friends - i wouldn't ask them in the invitation to bring something, but if you put your rsvp # on the invite- most of them will ask you if they can bring anything - hope you have a great time!
you may have just inspired me to do something - i'll just have to search the whole neighborhood to find the mommies!