Life can be so chaotic and hectic that between the busyness of work, kids and the regular to-do’s of running a house, making time for your spouse can seem like an unrealistic dream. But it is so important and a great investment in your marriage!
About 7 months ago, my husband and I decided to start weekly date nights. Our 4th child was 4 months old and we wanted to get away from the house alone. We needed to take a break from being parents and spend time just being a couple. And frankly, it has been awesome!
Why date nights are important:
It’s an opportunity to communicate. Being alone with your partner allows you the freedom to chat uninterrupted and to discuss any issues or problems. It also helps to give you a better insight into your spouse’s thoughts and feelings.
Date nights are a chance to return to your dating days. Take the time to really enjoy each other’s company and remember what made you both fall in love.
Date nights are fun! They are a break from the daily rigamarole without having to take a vacation. They are an additional thing to look forward to each week which is exciting!
How to make it happen:
We talked with our favorite sitter to see if she would be interested in watching our kids regularly one night a week. She was and, after figuring out what worked best with our schedules, we settled on Tuesday nights.
I know at first thought some people might think there is NO way they can escape for a date regularly. But if you sit down, look at your schedules and really make it a priority, I promise you will find time. Perhaps you can only get out once every other week or for a day date on Sunday afternoon. That’s perfect! Anything is better than nothing!
What if you don’t have the extra money to pay for a sitter? Ask a relative or find a reliable and trustworthy high school student that needs service hours who will babysit for free. Or, one of my favorites, find another couple who will watch your kids for your date night and then you can watch their’s on their date night!
What to do:
Not that there is anything wrong with it, but it’s is easy to fall into the dinner and a movie trap. So here’s a list of some of the things we’ve done so far to give you a few ideas and to keep it interesting:
- see a concert
- attend a marriage discussion series
- take a yoga class
- attend to a sporting event
- eat at an outdoor cafe and go for a walk
- visit a winery
- go shopping
- take a drive
- go golfing
- visit a new restaurant
Below are some ideas I want to schedule soon for our date nights:
- take a cooking class
- go to a trivia night
- stroll around the historic district near us
- see a comedy show
- take a painting class
- read the same book and then visit a new coffee shop to discuss it
- visit the botanical gardens
- see a play
- go for a massage
- get pedicures
Remember to check your area for free or inexpensive events to save some money. Date nights to do not need to be elaborate or expensive to be fun!
I hope this inspires you to make date night a priority. You won’t regret it!
-Brittany
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