Ultimate Stress Reliever


As the start of the school year approaches, I feel myself settling in the traditional hyperventilation mode I hit every fall. There is so much to do! And with a college senior who was gone half the summer, our days are now crammed with researching and visiting college campuses, searching for scholarships, and generally floundering around feeling confused and overwhelmed.

Plus, fall soccer started for my son (Yeah, yeah, I’m a soccer mom and proud of it!) with all its obligatory practices, and games. Lately, I feel like I’m constantly driving, or biting my nails while my newly permitted son is driving, making lists, and just running around DOING stuff for everybody.

Well, I was visiting the site of a fellow blogger, ThetaMom, and she issued a challenge for all the moms out there: Take a one-hour time-out for yourself within a week, then share the story on your blog. And by time-out, she meant without involving the kids in any way, shape, or form.

Just STOP for an hour? Hmmm…this was a challenge! But thanks to a dear friend of mine, I have a built-in monthly break that I adore.

Several years ago, my buddy, Cheryl, talked me into joining her group of Bunco Babes which met once a month. In case you’re unfamiliar with Bunco, it’s an incredibly mindless dice game that actually serves as a cover for women to get together and talk. Yes, talk! You get to talk to your friends for hours! Uninterrupted by children, homework, housework, cooking, or carpooling. It’s AWESOME! There are three tables of four players each. Players rotate throughout the night, giving each person ample opportunity to talk to everyone there.

Now I’m going to share a little secret about MY Bunco group that I haven’t even told my family. Okay, scoot a little closer to your computer…

We haven’t actually played Bunco in over a year! Don’t tell!

The first few years we started out playing, we really did! But over the past year, we’ve gotten so busy talking and laughing and eating chocolate M & M's and laughing and…well sort of never get around to actually playing the game.



So this past Friday, I got all ready, passed farewell kisses around to my family and sailed out the door at five minutes before 7:00 p.m. like usual, on my way to PLAY Bunco (wink, wink). This time we all brought books to lend, and shared some of our favorites with the group. My night with the Bunco Babes is a highlight of each month. I just love hanging out with those women! Memories of our times together keep me laughing the entire rest of the month as I recall the jokes and conversations of the evening. If you don’t already have one, I highly recommend creating your very own Bunco Babes group as the ultimate stress reliever!

Images by Jono Rotten

14 comments:

Theta Mom said...

Bunco is so fun! Actually, I played with a fabulous group of women and then I had kids, and you know how the story goes. I haven't played since. I remember we first ate and drank and sometimes that was even more fun than playing the game! LOL

So glad you took your time out and thanks for being so Theta awesome!

BTW, don't forget to add YOUR link on my blog (it's the MckLinky above the comments) so readers can click on your site! Add where it says, "your next." Yay for that! :)

Jackie said...

that is too funny!!!! i'm glad you got out and had a great time with the girls (even if you didn't play your game) dont worry - your secret is safe w/ me :)

yonca said...

Wow, such a great idea! Talking to the friends always makes me relax.Good friend plus CHOCOLATE?
Ooohhh! You were in heaven!!!
Following you now :-)

natalee said...

LOL!! I LOVE THAT!!!

PropellerHeadMom said...

Sounds like a great idea! I'll have to suggest it to my neighborhood Moms! We usually just hang around the bus stop to talk (after the bus leaves in the morning). But that's only for about ten minutes.

2Wired2Tired said...

That sounds like a great night! I've always wondered what Bunco was. Maybe I'll start my own group so I can have such a great "cover." Lol!

Mrs. G.I. Joe said...

Aww Holly that sounds like so much fun! I have no clue what Bunco is but I've heard a lot of people talk about it. Your way of "playing" it sounds like the most fun :)

Oh, and I love your layout!

The Grown-Up Child said...

I literally laughed out loud when I read that you hadn't actually played in years! That's awesome. I'm trying to do Theta Mom's challenge too, but I missed last week. Here's hoping to this week! Maybe I'll scout out a bunco group around here ;)

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Erin @ Closing Time said...

How fun! I have heard of Bunco but never really have known what it was! Sounds like you have a great getaway (whether you play the game or not)!

RuthMom said...

Wow, you really hit a nerve :)

Grizzly Bear said...

I have been invited to go to Bunco so many times and I have never had the time before. LOL I guess I better get started because this type of "bunco" party sounds fantastic.

Thank you for visiting my site. Reading through my run on sentences and misspellings. ROFL... Loved to read but never was good at punctuation and grammer.

I hope you have a great Sunday! Thanks again for stopping by

Grissell

Nicole Feliciano said...

Sounds like so much fun. I've never heard of BUNCO but the point is really to get together with friends. I'm also doing a linky. It is called Mommy Time Monday and I hope you'll stop by:

http://momtrends.blogspot.com/2009/08/mommy-time-monday-books-at-beach.html

Kristine said...

Sounds like so much fun...I LOVE when you said you hadn't played Bunco in over a year, I cracked up at your honesty!

Susan R. Mills said...

I used to be in a Bunco group, but it fell apart a few months ago. I miss it. FYI--I linked here from a photo I found on google images. I was looking for a picture of feet propped up and a picture on a post of yours from back in March came up. When I saw in your profile that you were a writer, I had to stop by.