Did Somebody say Date Night? Two "Done for You" date night plans (Quick, Easy, and Frugal)

 

My kids love a party!  Especially the Organized Child!  So, as my kiddos were growing up when a holiday showed up on the calendar, I would try to do something special at dinner time.  Over the years, we’ve celebrated Cinco de Mayo, Presidents Day, Groundhogs Day, and others; you get the idea.  Because of my predisposition to turn things into a party, date nights with my hubby aren’t really different.  One date night, I went all out for Chinese New Year.  The Organized Child made a homemade Chinese dinner.  I decorated, we played a game, made some origami and watched a movie.  (My husband feels the need for a movie almost every date night, no matter what activities I have planned.)






Recently, I’ve had several people ask me for date night ideas.  Specifically, I was asked for ideas that don’t require going out, no need for childcare, minimal preparation and can be done on little to no budget.  So, since I’m a party girl at heart and love themes, this week gave me the perfect springboard to offer two wholly planned out date nights.  (I just wish I’d thought of it a couple weeks ago so I could have provided you with pictures.)  And, remember date nights on the weekend that use themes for celebrations from the past or next week are always acceptable!

For people with kiddos

If your babies are little enough, put them to bed and start your date night after they’re in bed. If your kiddos are older, explain that you and your spouse are having a date night and consider one of the following ideas for them.

Because we were usually broke or didn’t have a sitter, I told my kids that daddy and I were having a date night because it made us a better mommy and daddy.  But, I had something special planned for them too.  Then, I would plan a fun dinner and movie night for them, either at the same time we were doing our date but in a different room or on a separate night, depending on their age.  I would make sure the dinner was something they didn’t usually have (it was their special date night meal) or was something they loved, liked pizza.  I also planned special treats that they only had on date night.  (My kids had dollar store movie candy or ice cream sundaes.)  Then they would get to watch a movie or play a video game or do something that required little supervision but was a rare, occasional activity.  Keep it simple!

Another option is to turn date night into a family night.  However, as my kids got older, they looked forward to our date nights because it gave them some freedom to do something they didn’t usually do.  Even now, The Little Guy, who is 13, asks every Friday or Saturday night, “Are you and dad having a date night?!”


Click below

StarWars Day Date Night

Cinco de Mayo Date Night

Remember

Date night is about having fun with your spouse!  Keep things simple and fun!  Things don't have to be perfect, the focus is spending time with your spouse and growing in your relationship.  Use what works for you, dump what doesn't.  JUST ENJOY EACH OTHER AND HAVE FUN!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Friends among Women

Image
Growing up I was not in the “IN” crowd, nor was I popular.   The majority of my grade-school years were spent at a Catholic school.   I remember classmates as far back as first grade but a best friend or even good friends I had very few.   My first memory of a best friend was in fourth grade.   I had one for fourth, and fifth.   Then I had a couple of friends in sixth, and seventh but no best friend.   Actually I wasn’t really liked much at all, in sixth and seventh grade.   Thinking back on it, seventh was my hardest, I was what would be considered today, bullied.   Some of the girls put my school shoes in the toilet while I was at P. E.   I was made fun of, and a whole host of other things, I don’t care to remember, throughout all of seventh grade.   Eighth grade was a bit better, the two queen bees that led the girls the years before, had left the school and I bonded with someone.   We were like Laverne & Shirley  (we ev...
Read more

Back to School...Wait! Did We Stop?!

Image
All the "Back to School" pictures on social media got me thinking about my kids' past conversations, comments, and questions.   So, in the interest of starting the new school year, I thought I would throw this out there.     You might be a homeschooler if you've ever heard these statements, questions, or had a conversation similar to one of these…     · There's a beginning of a school year? ·         Q - When did I start school?  A – The day you were born. · What's a grade? ·         Jane is in 2nd grade; am I in a grade? ·         Why did Bill get a number at the top of his paper? ·         Why did Sue get a letter at the top of her paper? ·         What are Valentines? ·         Why do I h...
Read more

Simple Saturdays

Were Saturdays of the past lazy?   To be honest I’m not sure if they were, I’m sure if you lived on a farm there was lots of work and before labor laws people probably worked all the time.   Maybe in the 50’s?   I don’t know, what I do know is I would like my Saturdays to be maybe not lazier but more enjoyable. My house always looks like a bomb has gone off in it.   One of my favorite quotes is “Cleaning the house while the children are growing is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing.” - Erma Bombeck.   I would like to get my house to a maintenance mode, so that on Saturday morning my family and I could do a Weekly Home Blessing Hour and then have the rest of the day to do projects that we really want to, or something that must be done, or just have a lazy or fun day. If you’re like me and are working toward that goal, a simple search of the internet will bring up lots and lots of ways to declutter, deep clean and get to that point.   Here are a...
Read more