Need a summer vacation of your own? Turn to YMCA White Rock’s parents’ night out
YMCA White Rock Parents’ Night Out
July 7 — “Under the Sea”; July 21 — “Slumber Party” (come in pajamas); July 28 — “Puppet Night”
When: 6:30-11 p.m.
Where: 7301 Gaston
Cost: $12 per child for family members; $15 for program members; $17 for guests
For information: 214-328-3849 or ymcawhiterock.org
Parents, we know you love your kids. But we’re almost halfway into summer vacation, which means you’re probably on the verge of pulling your hair out. And your reprieve is more than a month away.
Take a break from your children (and give them a break from you) by dropping them off this Friday at YMCA White Rock’s parents’ night out. It’s four and a half hours of adults-only time, and it’s one of our neighborhood’s best-kept secrets — many members didn’t even know about it until they spotted a mention in recent newsletters.
YMCA White Rock’s membership director Angela Reina can unabashedly sing the program’s praises because her 2-year-old has spent almost every Friday night there since she joined the Y’s staff.
“Unless we were out of town or something,” Reina says.
She uses the free time to see a movie or dine at a more grownup restaurant and says she doesn’t worry about a thing because the people watching her son, usually college age on up, are all YMCA employees, which means they’ve undergone CPR and first-aid training. This is an advantage for people who have neither family in the area nor a babysitter whom they know they can trust, Reina says.
“It’s better than hiring somebody that you don’t know very well,” she says.
Plus, it’s generally less expensive. Prices range from roughly $3.50 to $5 an hour per kid depending on a family’s membership status. And families with more than two children needn’t shy away — call and the Y will be happy to negotiate a special price.
Once they arrive, the children barely have time to miss their parents. Each night out has a special theme loaded with activities to keep them busy. Dinner, consisting of kid-friendly fare such as grilled cheese, is included in the bargain, and so is a “midnight” snack.
Any 6-week-old through 12-year-old can be dropped off; staff members divide them into activity groups based on age. You can sign up as far in advance as you’d like, but you must sign up by Wednesday the week of or pay a $5 late fee.
And, yes, if you reach your wits’ end on Friday afternoon, you can always march your kids straight to the Y that evening. But there may not be enough space by that time, Reina cautions — 15 children per staff member is the limit.
We suggest you don’t take that chance.
