After bedtime routines and carpools, it’s time for grown-up conversations—and maybe half-off wine.
Let’s be honest: parenting is beautiful, exhausting, joyful, chaotic… and sometimes a little lonely.
Somewhere between baby naps and school drop-offs, many of us quietly paused our social lives without even realizing it. The idea of meeting up with friends or grabbing drinks with other adults feels like something from another lifetime—or at least another decade.
But lately, something’s shifting. Parents everywhere are reclaiming those pockets of time to connect—not just as moms or dads, but as people.
The Rise of the “Parent Night Out”
What used to be rare “date nights” or occasional birthday dinners are now turning into intentional moments: a few hours away from the house, meeting other parents, sharing laughs that don’t involve Cocomelon, and yes—enjoying actual food while it’s still hot.
Some do trivia nights. Others go for a casual Thursday happy hour. A few parents we spoke with even organize “kid-free club crawls” every other month. The common thread? Time to breathe, bond, and feel like themselves again.
Finding the Right Spot (Without the Planning Overwhelm)
The hardest part? Finding somewhere worth going.
That’s where tools like Cheerhop come in. It’s a simple site that shows real-time food and drink deals—happy hours, Taco Tuesdays, wine nights—all filtered by your city and time of day. It’s like a shortcut for finding the right vibe without endless Googling or last-minute group texts.
One parent told us:
“I literally search ‘kids eat free’ for Tuesdays and ‘margaritas’ for Fridays. CheerHop does the rest.”
Making It a Habit
Social time shouldn’t feel like a luxury. It’s not about escaping your family—it’s about recharging so you can show up as the best version of yourself for your family.
Some quick ideas:
- Set a recurring calendar reminder: even once a month is a win
- Rotate babysitting duties with a fellow parent friend
- Pick places with good happy hour menus to keep it budget-friendly
- ????️ Browse the map on Cheerhop to find happy hours near you
- Don’t overthink it—sometimes showing up is the hardest (and most important) part
In the End, It’s Not Just About the Deals
Yes, we love half-priced cocktails. But really, it’s about something bigger: community. Laughter. Conversation. Moments that remind us we’re not alone in this parenting journey.
Social parenting—connecting with other parents through shared experiences—offers a range of emotional and practical benefits. It creates a sense of community and support, reminding you that you’re not alone in the ups and downs of raising children. Whether it’s swapping tips about bedtime routines, venting about screen time struggles, or just laughing over a shared parenting fail, these connections can reduce stress and help combat feelings of isolation. Social parenting also models healthy friendships and emotional intelligence for your kids, showing them the value of building and nurturing relationships beyond the family unit.
So, if you’re reading this and haven’t had a “you” night in a while—this is your sign.
Text that group chat. Check out what’s happening near you. And maybe, just maybe, let someone else clean the kitchen for once.
