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A group of friends out for girls' night.

The Definitive Argument for Girls' Night

Girls’ nights were probably a weekly thing when you and all of your girlfriends were in college and didn’t have families to take care of, but now that you all have husbands and children, it can be more difficult to find the time. Between soccer games, piano practice, and barely being able to squeeze in date nights, when are you supposed to find a free night to relax and unwind with your closest friends who also have similar responsibilities? Is it still important enough to make arrangements and set aside time for a girls' night? The answer is yes.

It’s good for you.

First and foremost, you need girls’ nights for your own mental and emotional health, which translates into physical health, too. In your day-to-day life, you and your spouse are responsible for caring for your children, and providing that level of care is exhausting. They say mothers never have a day off, but you can definitely still enjoy at least a night off. 

Can you imagine going out to dinner and not having to wipe ketchup off your toddler’s shirt? Or not having to cut up grilled chicken into tiny pieces for your five-year-old because she won’t eat it otherwise? You can focus entirely on yourself and enjoy the time you have with your friends. You have the opportunity to vent your frustrations about never having time to get a manicure, and you can share the joys of your husband planning a getaway to Barbados for your 10th anniversary. No one understands you quite like your close girlfriends, and you need that mental break every once in a while where no one is dependent on you.

It’s also good for your family.

Having girl’s nights has benefits not only for you and your friends, but your family members as well. They may not be the ones enjoying a glass of wine and a MasterChef marathon, but the time your family has without you is valuable. This definitely doesn’t mean that they enjoy you being gone, but it gives your husband some precious bonding time with your children so they can develop a close relationship. 

You also know the old saying that distance makes the heart grow fonder, so even just a few hours can remind your husband how much he loves you and misses you when you’re not around. He’ll realize how much you contribute to the family. Especially when the baby spits up on her brand new onesie, and you’re not there to clean it up.

Your children can learn from you.

Finally, as your children grow older, they need to see that you still take time out of your busy schedule for your friends. Maintaining friendships is just as important as maintaining healthy relationships with family so it’s essential to show your children from a young age the importance of friends. Once they are older and have their own families, they will remember that you spent every second Saturday of the month trying out new restaurants and wineries with your friends, and they’ll hopefully do the same or similar. 

Spending alone time with your girlfriends also encourages your husband to sometimes go have a guys’ night and a few beers with his friends while you take your turn watching the kiddos for an evening. Everyone needs to remember that being a good friend is an important part of life.

Last Updated: August 31, 2015