 | Parents7 Reasons You Need a Date Without KidsPosted Monday, February 4th, 2008 and visited 574 times, 3 so far today by MInTheGap |
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Children truly are a blessing. They fill your life in so many ways. They make you smile, and they truly love you no matter what.
The problem is that they can also drive you crazy!
Yes, we all love them, but that doesn’t mean that they have to be with us every moment of every day, and so here are 7 reasons that you need a date without kids:
7. You think that Chicken Nuggets are Gourmet Food.
If it’s been a long time since the last time you were out without kids, you may notice that there are more things on the menu than hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken nuggets. There are so many great things to taste and eat that this is a good reason to find a sitter and leave the kids at home.
6. All of your Conversation Topics center on Your Children
Have you lost your identity since you had children? This is very often the case. We get wrapped up in what Susie or Johnnie did or didn’t do, how many words they can spell, and how many teeth they’ve lost that we lose sight of those things that we enjoyed when we were first married. Figuring out who you are only after your kids are gone can result in scary results!
5. Your life Revolves around Two or Three Places.
If you’re like a lot of parents of small children (I raise my hand here too!), then you probably find that most of your week revolves around your home, your work, and your church. Going to the grocery store is now considered an outing, and visiting family substitutes for cultural enrichment. The problem is that a lot of the places that you could go, you aren’t able to because of nap times, bed times, feeding times, or whining children.
4. You don’t know what you’d do on a Night By Yourselves.
This is a big sign that you need a night out– alone. How many times have you asked your spouse “what do you want to do tonight” and they don’t have answer… or it’s the same thing you always do? When’s the last time that you tried something new or different? Why do you let the children be an excuse?
3. You need better communication.
This goes along with your conversation topics, but when’s the last time that you actually tried to get to know one another? How easy is it to grow to love and know your spouse better when Sally’s asking you for the salt over and over again. Taking time away from television and spending quality time with your spouse can only make your marriage better.
2. Your Family is only as strong as your Relationship with your Spouse.
Your kids are not only learning how to be a good future marriage partner from you– they’re also directly effected by how you show love to your spouse. If your spouse is having a bad day and you bridge the gap– that’s a direct effect. If you love your spouse with an active love, it will shine through and you’ll see it in your children.
1. There are just Some Things You Can’t do While they’re around.
And sometimes, after they’ve gone to bed you’re just too tired. Enough said.
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February 6th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Even re-reading this I got a great chuckle at the ending! Excellent advice, and boy do DH and I need some time away…it’s been one thing after another for a long time. We almost got a date night/full night away, but our friends called to cancel their babysitting for us, b/c of sick kids, and it turned out that we would have had to cancel on them anyway, b/c the day before my 7 yo started her high fever ordeal. So, we still have it to look forward to! Yay. Sigh.This is a great reminder, just in time to plan something for an evening around V-day. We dislike going out on V-day itself, as every restaurant is packed out as it is.
Mary’s last blog post..How Does God See Us?
February 6th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Thanks for the encouragement. This is one of those things that we all know we need but we all neglect to do. I’m starting to think through things that I can do with Virtuous Blonde in the time coming up that’s new that we haven’t tried just to do something different!
February 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
It is so wonderful when your older children are old enough to babysit! It seems it took forever to get to that point but I sure enjoy it now!
MamaArcher’s last blog post..A Double Rainbow
February 7th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Virtuous Blonde actually asked me the other day about what age kids can start babysitting. I said that I didn’t think it was until close to 16 (if there are other little ones). What’s been your experience?
February 7th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Great post — and so true (all seven!).As for babysitting ages, it depends a lot on the maturity level of the teen you’re talking about. Some will be ready at 13 (that’s when I started); others won’t be until 15 or older. That being said, our oldest girl is extremely responsible, and is usually kinder and more nurturing to her little sister than I am. Seriously. We started letting her be home alone, during the day, for 1/2 hour or so when she was eleven. I’d run to the grocery store with the younger one and see how eldest did by herself. She was not allowed to answer the phone (unless I called with our special “signal”
. She was, clearly, not allowed to answer the door. And I had my cell phone in case she needed anything or felt the least bit uncomfortable.After she was completely comfortable staying home by herself, we asked her if she’d be okay taking care of her little sister. She enthusiastically agreed. So, now that she’s 12 years old (and her sister is 9), we will sometimes go out for a quick coffee or lunch date, or even an early dinner. We never stay out for longer than an hour and a half, and we’re always home before bedtime. We really let her comfort level dictate, so I’m not sure when she’ll feel ready to handle more. (I frankly think she could handle it now, but I’d rather wait until she believes it herself.)
February 7th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
We started when our oldest was 13. Never for really long periods of time and they were not to answer the door AT ALL! It really depends on maturity. To be honest, in our experience, the girls are better than the boys and can be younger too.
MamaArcher’s last blog post..Discernment