Let's face it. The life of a modern mom would not be complete without the play-date.

While at work, we get a voicemail from Play-date Penny who would love to pencil our child in for an afternoon of organized extra-curricular activities and we “accidentally” forget to call her back for days. Then there are the times when the babysitter calls in sick and we’re desperate to find the post-it where we jotted down Play-date Penny’s phone number.

For some moms, scheduling play-dates has become a full time job. They have it down to a science, organizing and planning everything from the kids to the carpool to the heart-shaped sandwiches they’ll serve as snack. We applaud these women. They do an amazing job and are the queens of play-dates. Now, for working mothers, it’s a different story. We already have full-time jobs and are stretched so thin that we usually don’t have the time, energy or sanity required to plan the perfect play-date. Let’s call those two hour chunks of socialized, structured play what they really are -- all work, no play-dates.

But the truth is, as much as we try to avoid them, the play-date is here to stay. For those of you new to the game, here’s a simple guide to help you survive the pitfalls of play-dating, the ones we loathe and the ones we love.

Because if you can’t be with the one you love, play-date with the one you’re with.

Play-dates We Loathe

Play-date Desperado…A lonely mother who is new to the neighborhood will stalk you and your child until you agree to come over to play for an afternoon. The truth is, she’s the one desperate for a play-date and is using her child as bait. Out of pity or exhaustion, you finally give in and accept the offer, only to find you have nothing in common with this woman. To add insult to injury, the kids get into a major brawl and before you can grab the doorknob to make your getaway, she’s already asking you for a second date and you desperately search your library of excuses to think of a believable reason as to why you can never return. Incidentally, contagious skin rashes work like a charm.

Play-date Cliques…On the rare occasion you do drop your child off at school, you see them gathering in the parking lot. Sporting trendy workout clothes, hair tied back in a ponytail, light make-up application, the keys to their Lexus SUV in one manicured hand and their pig-tailed child’s hand in the other. Meet the play-date clique or the “witches of preschool” as we like to call them, comprised of women who do everything together, be it coffee, tennis, gym, and of course, play-dates. If you happen to take a day off from work and have a run-in with the witches, they’ll be sure to pretend not to know who you are and will intentionally box you out of their conversation. While you overhear them chat about their plans to take their little princesses to an afternoon origami workshop, don’t feel bad that you’re not on the invite list. Smile to yourself because you know that tomorrow, while they’re chasing their kids at Chucky Cheese, you’ll be back at work lunching and laughing with one of your favorite clients - who just happens to be a working mom just like you.

Peculiar Play-dates…Your kids get along great and your child begs, pleads and moans to have a play-date with their newest friend. Only one problem, you find the parents kind of weird. It’s like visiting the Addams Family. They were always friendly, but something was always just a little off-center. It’s not like they’ve got “Cousin It” or that creepy hand named “Thing” bunking with them, but the mom is sporting that 1970’s long-haired Morticia look, and the place seems to have a spooky Halloween feel to it, and its only March. The peculiar play-daters phone constantly and if you still don’t have caller ID, run, don’t walk to the nearest Radio Shack to pick one up or you’re doomed.

Play-date Piranhas – Jimmy seemed nice enough, but after inspecting the bite marks on your son’s left arm, you discover it might be best to keep your child away from Hannibal Lecter-in training. Biters, punchers, sword fighters and swashbucklers can be scary when your child--a rule abiding, Raffi loving moppet--enters their world. Suddenly, your peaceful pixie starts picking up those bad habits and the next thing you know, he’s biting the dog. Rule of thumb for biters: if they break the skin during a play-date, they can’t come back until they break the habit...if that doesn't happen until middle school, then sorry, but it’s been nice knowing you. Continued ...