Before children, we used to date each other a lot. We had endless date night ideas. We went on a 5* holiday to Mexico, had numerous hotel stays. Nights out and shopping trips were a regular occurrence.
We would regularly go out for Friday happy hour and I would leave my work colleagues to go ‘date’ my now hubby. I classed it as being more important. We would order bottles of wine in a fancy wine bar, along with tapas. Sometimes I would go get my hair done first. Wonderful memories.
We had fun. I have no regrets about the lack of social interactions we have now.
Because we both lived life to the fullest at University, then together, we have no regrets. There isn’t a single day I’m resentful for the life I have now. It’s just another amazing chapter, which is different from the social life we had before.
Undoubtedly life has now dramatically changed. We have to be a little more creative with our date night ideas. There is no avoiding the fact we can’t just go out when we want to. Even on days off, we have nursery pick-ups to sort out, and responsibilities that come along with looking after a toddler.
Because we both lived life to the fullest at University, then together, we have no regrets. There isn’t a single day I’m resentful for the life I have now. It’s just another amazing chapter, which is different from the social life we had before.
Whatever life throws at us, it is important to fit in some time to still date each other. Anyone who’s experienced the full force of a toddler will know you can’t even have an adult conversation in their presence. They get angry at not being acknowledged. And sometimes this could mean toys being thrown at you. A ‘date’ for us could be as insignificant as an hour-long conversation, without ‘toddler’ interruptions.
We get time to just be adults, which is very important to being a successful parent.
Here is a rundown of the practical alone time we’ve managed to fit into our hectic schedule recently:
Walking
We love walking, but with a toddler, we are limited as to the walks we can go on until she is a little bit older.
On a recent rare weekday together, when she was at nursery, we walked together and it was lovely. Just the two of us, talking, taking pictures, and saying hello to the other walkers. Because it was a weekday, it was fairly quiet and we had a beautiful landscape with bluebells and a lovely river all to ourselves.
We did this walk when I was newly off work following my breakdown and it helped me. I still look back at the pictures and think I’ve come a long way since then. During the walk, I thought I would never feel better again.
Watching films
The perfect date night idea. We can now only do this when we have a night together, without a toddler running around. Because we can, we usually end watching a three-hour film.
For me it has to be epic, otherwise, I am wasting my time. I am very picky when selecting films.
Who knows, we might even make it to a cinema soon!
Wandering around the supermarket
It may sound simple, but wandering around a supermarket, a shop, walking with a coffee, is amazing when you don’t have to chase after a toddler or carry three large bags of supplies around with you.
There is also the element of doing something for ourselves. When we visit a shop as a twosome, we might purchase an item of clothing for ourselves, a scented candle. Instead of thinking about buying for the little one.
We get time to just be adults, which is very important to being a successful parent.
Going for a coffee
The ultimate date night idea. COFFEE DATE!
We recently popped into a brand new Starbucks drive-through and sat outside in the sunshine with a lovely coffee together, before a nursery pickup.
It was amazing, to have time to chat and be still for a while. Nowhere to be and not a care in the world. we all need this!
A drive to nowhere
Sitting in the car admiring the view, listening to music, letting the world go by. I talk more about our love of driving aimlessly in the car in this post, Want to have fun on a budget? Need to entertain the kids? Follow my 10 easy steps…
Jump in the car and see where it takes you! The benefit of doing this without a toddler, is loud music, car chatter and not thinking about nappy changes, potential car sick of retrieving the dummy which as just thrown on the floor!
Final thoughts
Do you have any creative date night ideas? I would love to know in the comments below.
These are amazing date night ideas that are so simple – although we’re not parents yet I can imagine these will be in handy for those incredibly exhausting days.
One of my favorite “date nights” is just making dinner with my husband. Typically it is one or the other of us making dinner for us and the kids, but those rare occasions when we can be in the kitchen together is always special. We bonded over food and working together in the kitchen early on in our relationship so it is definitely one of my favorite things to do with him.
Aww, this is lovely. I totally agree, it’s the simple little things.
We’ve had a few weekday afternoons lately when our little one is at nursery. Just sitting on the sofa chatting is a luxury. You rarely get that with a toddler.
I know a number of parents who could really do with this advice so I will be sharing it with them — thanks for sharing!
I am glad you found the post useful and thank you for sharing x
This is great 🙂 This will help a lot of tired parents out there what a nice read!
Thank you. I hope it helps other people 🙂
Great suggestions! That’s exactly what we are is “tired parents”! Thank you.
~MIchelle
https://michellescrazybusylife.net
Thank you. So are we!
Some really cute and simple ideas here, personally I love a good driving to nowhere date where you can just sit in the car and chat about everything and anything for hours!
I also love doing that aswell x
Some cute ideas! I’m not a parent yet but when I am, I’ll have to learn to adapt date nights and time with my partner for sure!
You definitely find creative ways to spend time together when you’re busy with a little one.