We all know it is important to date your spouse, if you need some date night ideas here is a great post from Katie!!
Today I want to encourage you all to make time to date your children. Spending one on one time with each of your children will benefit them in so many ways. My husband and I want each of our kids to know how unique and special they are to us and dating them is one way to achieve that. We have 3 daughters and finding the time to do one on one dates with them is difficult but well worth it. One way we have achieved this is to fit it into our everyday lives.
I grew up in a big family so alone time with my parents was treasured. I have fond memories of going to Dahl’s…just me and my dad! Getting breakfast in the café and just chatting for an hour or so. I had him all to myself, it was awesome. My parents made a diligent choice to date us while we were growing up and this made a huge impact on my life. I always felt so loved when I got to go somewhere with just me and my mom or dad.
We starting taking our girls on special dates when they were around 2. My husband and I like to make a big deal about it no matter where we are taking them so they get excited and feel super special! We know this may get harder as they get older, but for right now we will hold on to the giddy-with-joy stage we are in now!!!!
Here are some date ideas we have tried…hope it gets your juices flowing:
Dates with Mommy:
- Going to the store-as simple as that, just take one with you..it’ll be easier, less stressful and you can have great conversations while getting errands done.
- Going to Starbucks or get ice cream-Claire and I are a little bit in love with their vanilla bean scones! She also thinks it is awesome that she gets her own chocolate milk!! Find a special spot that is just for you two.
- Workout with them-Norah loves doing yoga with me and Claire loves to dance!
- Bake/Cook with them-I love having one on one time with them while baking or cooking.
- Walk the dog-why that is so exciting to them, I will never know but they love it!
Dates with Daddy:
- Costco: we usually do this as a family date but from time to time they get to go with just their daddy.
- Work: my girls love going to the “job sites” with my husband or to his office to help him work.
- Home Depot/ Menards: My girls would rather go to Home Depot with daddy then Target with mommy!! There is something wrong with that.
- Shoot hoops, play catch, go fishing-whatever hobby daddy does it is sure to be loved by your little one too.
- Dress up and go to a fancy restaurant-and in our case, when I say fancy restaurant I mean IHOP. They love going to IHOP with daddy.
We have loved dating our daughters and we know the importance of this tradition will continue as they grow. We want them to have memories of us spending one on one time with them and pouring into them individually.
I love this post Bekah! We do the same thing with Drake and will do it with Charlie too when he is older. I love taking Drake to Target with me. We also have so much fun and talk lots! I really think dating your kids is one of the most importan things you can do as a parent!
Couldn’t agree more Katie Cox!
I loved this post! I always want to do “family” things but that one on one time is important as well! Karl and I each took a girl this morning and did dates. I took Lucy to target to finish Easter shopping and she was in heaven when I let her look at all of the toys for about an hour!! Perk: if they play with them long enough at the store they don’t ask you to buy them 🙂
I don’t usually go to the grocery store on the weekend, but when I do, I take one girl with me to Hy-Vee. They like the one-on-one time, and they love the free cookie from Hy-Vee’s bakery. 🙂
My boys are 8 and 11, we have had date nights since they were tiny!! I love this article and hope other mamas will realize how important it is… For our family it has been the perfect time to practice life skills…..like our manners, it is much easier when it is one on one!! We have also had used these nights to discuss the touchy subjects…. bullying, death and transitioning to middle school. I love date night and the older our boys are the less common date nights are.
I will check my calendar in the morning to set some for this month!!
LOVE THIS BEKAH!! The Home Depot date made me laugh…my girls love it too! I think its the stickers from the paint section! LOL!
great post bekah! i get to date my one-and-only often, but i hope someday i can use this information well!