My Husband and I Are Skipping Date Nights and Doing Something Else

My husband and I have two kids (7 and 5), and the last time we went on a date alone where we got all dressed up was in April 2021.

We’re horrible about prioritizing time just the two of us.

Usually, to coordinate a date without kids, I have to plan ahead, hope that everyone stays healthy, and then cross my fingers it happens.

But this year instead of a date night with the pressure to plan ahead and find a sitter, maybe there are other options.

Here’s what we’re doing.

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Lunch Dates

For the first time, both of our kids are full-time in school. The preschool days are officially over, and now more than ever it feels like lunch dates are back on the table.

What this also means is no need to find a babysitter or have the extra cash to pay them.

A big win.

Bring on all the places my kids don’t enjoy eating like thai and tex-mex. With my husband partly working from home and my flexible schedule, it’s time to finally eat out again where WE want.

And today we made it happen.

While I was finishing up a deadline and my husband was finishing a call in the kitchen, he walked into the room and asked if I wanted to go to lunch.

Why yes! Yes, I do.

We settled on delicious tacos at one of our favorite local Mexican places.

We enjoyed a kid-free lunch with some relaxed conversation.

It’s hard a lot of times to find uninterrupted time like this. Typically, we have kids asking us to play or show us something.

The bonus with our lunch date out was there were fewer people dining as opposed to a Saturday night with everyone out on the town. Personally, my introverted self was pleased.

But that’s not the only date we plan on doing more of this year.

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Coffee dates

Probably some of my more treasured moments together have involved drinking coffee.

Give me a hot latte and a comfortable place to sit with enjoyable company and I’m happy.

Taking time out once in a while through the week to have coffee in the morning after the kids go to school is my idea of an enjoyable date. We’ve done a little bit of it in the past before kids, but this year we intend to make it happen more.

There is a place only five minutes away that serves not only delicious drinks, but they take the time to do fun designs as well like the one below.

a warm latte with such a beautiful design from one of our coffeehouse trips

(Monica Flores on Unsplash)

These morning coffee moments feel like times when we both can slow down, relax a little, and enjoy a window of one-on-one time throughout the week.

I really love it. Memorable in such a simple way.

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Closing thoughts

Arranging date nights has never seemed to work for us, so this year perhaps lunch and coffee dates will become our new thing.

I hope so.

When you’re a couple with young kids, finding time to go on dates and connect is never easy.

My piece of personal advice — keep trying. Even if it’s a few moments sitting on the patio at home together after the kids are in bed. It’s a date if you both see it that way.

Thank you for taking the time to read and engage with my articles. I truly appreciate your support.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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