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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the term Playdate, aghhhhhh

244 replies

pigletmania · 09/06/2010 08:30

That's it really, its so American, so aghghhhhh. Why cant it be like it was, going round to play! If I hear of that term again I will spontaniously combust .

OP posts:
TakeLovingChances · 09/06/2010 08:34

YANBU.

First time I heard it I had no idea what my friend was talking about; I had to ask what it meant

I know now what it means, but don't like the phrase. Will continue to say, "meet up together with the kids." Much more sensible sounding!

zephyrcat · 09/06/2010 08:34

Thank you...glad someone else feels the same!!

belgo · 09/06/2010 08:34

Agree!

Also hate hearing the word 'season' instead of 'series' when describing british TV shows. So American!

ifancyashandy · 09/06/2010 08:36

I was thinking of starting a thread about this exact same thing!

There is something about it that is soooooo smug and prissy. I detest it.

Original poster
pigletmania · 09/06/2010 08:37

oh and we have a 'Show and Tell' at dds pre school too. Whatever happened to home day or brining your toy day like it used to be called.

OP posts:
Original poster
pigletmania · 09/06/2010 08:39

I know ifancy its oozes smugness i could not have put it in a better way. I was collecting dd from pre school which is attatched to the local primary school, a mum was calling to another mum quite loudly, that she will have to arrange a playdate with her, ahhhhh my poor ears.

OP posts:
Original poster
pigletmania · 09/06/2010 08:41

When I arrange with other mums for our dcs to come round to play not a playdate.

OP posts:
Ladyanonymous · 09/06/2010 08:44

Ooohhh me too and my kids have begun saying "I'm done" rather than "I have finished" ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are English, not bloody American and if I had wanted you to speak in a twee American accent and use twee American phrases I would've moved to the States before you were born!!!

...and breathe...

Original poster
pigletmania · 09/06/2010 08:46

My dd watches Dora, Bear and playhouse Disney and has adotped Americanisms. When she wants to go to the toilet, she has i have to go to the bathroom , despite my saying its toilet.

OP posts:
TrillianAstra · 09/06/2010 08:55

It's a horrible word but did we actually have a word for the concept before?

It used to be called 'coming round for tea', or 'going round to play', but there was no noun.

belgo · 09/06/2010 09:09

'coming round to play' sufficed when I was a child!

Original poster
pigletmania · 09/06/2010 09:27

Trillian thats the way I always knew it, and thought it still was until reading MN and hearing the mother shouting about a playdate. Sounds so formal and twee, I hate it

OP posts:
ABitBatty · 09/06/2010 09:32

I hate it too. However, no-one round here says it that I have heard. I say 'coming round for tea'.

xstitch · 09/06/2010 09:33

I hate it too. I don't call them playdates. I especially hate it since my SIL told me that proper mums call them playdates. Made me even more determined not to call it that but I'm stubborn.

Original poster
pigletmania · 09/06/2010 09:36

xstitch regarding your sIL and proper mums whaaaat. So those who do not use the term are not then! What else does she define as being proper mum behaviour I wonder

OP posts:
Bollox · 09/06/2010 09:37

I feel the same about Pre-School. what happned to playgroup?

shinyrobot · 09/06/2010 09:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 09/06/2010 09:43

Stupid American phrase....

xstitch · 09/06/2010 09:47

pigletmania her ideas change everyday. Basically do the complete opposite to me and you will be fine. She is a bit very nuts

Snobear4000 · 09/06/2010 09:59

I don't use the phrase. Not because it's American, I hasten to add (there are many Americans here on MN who might be appalled by the discussion so quickly descending into xenophobia), but because a "date" is something teenagers do as a precursor to having a snog or a fuck. I'm afraid I don't believe 4yo DS is at that stage yet.

"Coming over to our house" is good enough for me. Anyone inviting DS over for a "play date" will be politely refused, as I feel that only freaky alpha-mums use the term and I don't want to be anywhere near them.

I will of course make an exception for my American friends.

Tidey · 09/06/2010 10:04

I actually think season makes more sense than series. All of the episodes ever made of a programme make up the series, each season is the smaller blocks of programmes. Would agree with 'playdate' being yuck though.

fragola · 09/06/2010 10:07

Hate the phrase, hate it, hate it, hate it, and I will never use it. It should be banned.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 09/06/2010 10:10

Def NBU. My dd has her friends over to play or goes to their house to play, they don't have playdates. She attends an International school where all the children seem to have a mid Atlantic accent despite being, on the whole European. She started to ask for cookies, the bathroom, call me Mom and talk about playdates. All were refused until she reverted to proper english talk.

CrankyTwanky · 09/06/2010 10:13

I do hate it, but I think more for slightly racist reasons than anything.

It's not a bad word, really. Succinct.

ZZZenAgain · 09/06/2010 10:16

never met anyone who had anything good to say about the term. Never thought about it being a regular American word that had drifted across the Atlantic.

Irrespective of that "date" for me doesn't go with something dc do so I always felt a bit naff saying "playdate". In fact I'm not sure I have ever said it. Not surprising considering how much I try to get out of them mind...