The Playdate

Single mother Callie returns to work, asking her friend and neighbor to take care of her frail daughter Rae, which sets in motion a chain of events that reveals the isolation, turmoil, and dark secrets behind the doors of a seemingly peaceful neighborhood.

A playdate is an organized meeting where parents come together with their children at a public or private location to interact socially or “play.” Children no longer simply “go out and play,” rather, play is arranged, scheduled, and parentally-approved and supervised. How do these playdates happen? Who gets asked and who doesn’t? What is acceptable play behavior? In The Playdate, Tamara R. Mose focuses on the parents of young children in New York City to explore how the shift from spontaneous and child-directed play to managed and adult-arranged playdates reveals the structures of modern parenting and the new realities of childhood. Mose argues that with the rise of moral panics surrounding child abuse, pedophilia, and fears about safety in the city, as well as helicopter parenting, and over-scheduling, the playdate has emerged as not just a necessity in terms of security and scheduling, but as the very hallmark of good parenting. Based on interviews with parents, teachers, childcare directors, and nannies from Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island, the book provides a first-hand account of the strategies used by middle-class parents of young children to navigate social relationships—their own and those of their children. Mose shows how parents use playdates to improve their own experiences of raising children in New York City while at the same time carefully managing and ensuring their own social and cultural capital. Mose illustrates how the organization of playdates influences parents’ work lives, friendships, and public childrearing performances, and demonstrates how this may potentially influence the social development of both children and parents. Ultimately, this captivating and well-researched book shows that the playdate is much more than just “child’s play.” Tamara Mose on The Brian Lehrer Show

"Drawing in her experience as a parent and a sociologist, Mose shows how some parents include and exclude families through their children's playdate experience, thereby aligning themselves with like-minded parents who may further the social and life chances of their young children and themselves. She also shows how the playdate can help new parents sort through their new lives and responsibilities from breast feeding to caring for an infant who cannot actively interact through play, lays bare the logistics of organizing a play"--From publisher description.

Children playing illustrate simple concepts such as old and new, fast and slow, and happy and sad.

Arranging the playdate was easy. Child’s play. Preparing the house was more difficult. It was only now she realised how many photographs there were: the picture-perfect unit. Wife, husband, child. All of it a lie. I made a new friend at playgroup today. She’s different from the other mothers. She feels like someone I can trust. Someone I can confide in. But there are some things I can’t tell her. Things I can’t tell anyone. Because I have a secret that no one else knows. One that still haunts my dreams, wakes me up in a cold sweat at night. Even another mother would never understand. Unless, of course, she’s hiding something too… From the bestselling author of The Argument, this utterly addictive psychological thriller will have you hooked from the first page to the final, mind-blowing twist. Fans of Friend Request, The Silent Patient and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down. Readers are loving The Playdate: ‘OMG!!… Brilliant!… makes your heart skip a beat… will have the hairs on your head standing… OH BOY… This ending is explosive and will simply leave you breathless and gasping… This is a MUST READ!’ The Secret Book Sleuth, 5 stars ‘Fantastic, excellent… incredible… I could not put this one down for the life of me… loved, loved, loved this book… Wow, what a roller coaster ride of an ending that was. There were so many twists and turns that I never knew whether I was turning left or turning right. I love it when a book shocks the pants off of me… I would highly recommend this to a friend and would shout it from any roof top.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘I loved this mind blowing, impulsive, crazy book! The ending will blow your mind!’ @oh.happy.reading ‘Simply WOW… just jaw-dropping… hooked till the end… a brilliant and compelling read.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars ‘Excellent… keeps you on your toes… keeps you gripped until the end!’ @theinsomniacbookclub, 5 stars ‘Difficult to put down… I never would have seen that ending coming… absolutely brilliant… I definitely will be adding Victoria Jenkins to my list for go to authors. I just wish I could give it more than five stars.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Lays out a plan for parents to enjoy themselves and not be slaves to their children while still offering their kids a warm, nurturing environment.” —Publishers Weekly Parents were here first! How did the kids suddenly take control? Sure the world has changed from the days when children were supposed to be seen and not heard but things have gotten a little out of hand. What about some quality time for the grownups? Author Christie Mellor’s hilarious, personal, refreshing, and actually quite useful advice delightfully rights the balance between parent and child. In dozens of short, wickedly funny chapters, she skewers today’s parental absurdities and reminds us how to make child-rearing a kick. With recipes, helpful hints, and illustrations, this high-spirited book is the only book parents will really need—and enjoy. Includes chapters on: Screaming: Is It Necessary? Bedtime: Is Five-Thirty Too Early? Child Labor: Not Just for the Third World! “Children’s Music”: Why? . . . and much, much more “Harried mothers who have given over their lives to their adorable little angels, beware: This book is the equivalent of a cocktail in the face . . . The book details the glories of saying no to your children, explains when you’ve gone too far in childproofing your home, laments our over-reliance on camcorders (‘a disease’) and suggests that the Tooth Fairy is getting robbed. Best of all, there’s a recipe for teaching your tot how to mix a simple martini just the way you like it—with lots of alcohol.” —Chicago Sun-Times

Have you seen Lucia Blix? Lucia went home from school for a playdate with her new friend Josie. Later that evening, her mother Elisa dropped off her overnight things and shared a glass of wine with Josie's mother. Then she kissed her little girl goodnight and drove home. That was the last time she saw her daughter. The next morning, the house was empty. No furniture, no family, no Lucia...

This groovy series from New York Times bestselling team James and Kimberly Dean introduces Pete the Cat before he was Pete the Cat...when he was little Pete the Kitty! Pete the Kitty is super excited to visit his friend Grumpy Toad’s house for a playdate! Grumpy Toad has all the best toys: a truck, building blocks, and a superhero cape. Far out! It’s going to be cat-tastic! But when Grumpy Toad refuses to share any of his cool toys with Pete, neither of them are having any fun. Will Grumpy Toad ever share his toys with his friend Pete? In this easy-to-read and engaging picture book, little readers will learn all about sharing with their favorite blue kitten!