Parent’s Night Out: Fresh & Fun Date Night Ideas
Parenting Shouldn’t Be All Work & No Play!
Do you ever find yourself looking at your spouse and wondering when the last time you spent any time alone was? The term “two ships passing in the night” applies to so many of us with young children. It is easy to get stuck in a rut when we are overcome by the exhaustion of juggling jobs, school, chores, after school activities, etc. However, this is one of the worst things we can do for our relationship, and therefore for our children. The base of a family is the parents and if we don’t nurture our marriages and relationships, the family suffers. I know I find myself really missing this alone time with my husband and trying to think of ways to reconnect when we veer off track.
Make a List!
One great way to break these bad habits is to plan a date night. Here are some great ways to breathe some life back into our sometimes stale relationships. The best way to start is to make a list of different date ideas you might like to try and pick one. Decide what your budget is and find something that fits into it. Take into account the cost of a babysitter, but if you have family close by or a close friend who would be willing to watch your children as a favor, take advantage of it!
Do a “Date Day”
One of the things to think about is whether you would rather go out during the day or at night. We live pretty close to the beach, so one of our “date days” is to get a sitter and take a nice long walk on the beach. It is something we both enjoy and is great time to connect and get some exercise. Some date day ideas you might enjoy instead are hiking, going to a museum, going for a picnic, indoor rock climbing, ice skating, roller skating or mini golfing. You could even go apple picking and then make a pie together later!
Learn & Play
Choose an activity where you can learn do something for each other. Taking a cooking class or a massage how-to is a great way to learn something new and then to surprise your spouse later with a home cooked meal or impromptu massage. If you have young children who go to bed early or can’t spend much money on your date, plan a game night (after bedtime). Bring out the old board games (think Scrabble, Monopoly, Twister) or a game of cards. It’s amazing how much fun it can be playing like a kid again. If you can afford to splurge, try wine tasting, a couples’ massage, or even a weekend away!
Take turns planning the date—it’s just another way to show your partner you care. Have a great time while you remember how much fun you can have together and why your relationship and family are so special to you.
Meet The Bella Behind the Blog: Kristen Farley is a mother of three and a domestic goddess. She is a former teacher who enjoys spending lots of time with her kids, healthy eating, volunteering at school, and mommy blogging for the masses.
Be on the lookout for more of Kristen’s expert advice and brillent tips!
