A date night for mom and dad are so important to keep a marriage happy and healthy. Some amazing date nights can be going on a hike to take in a romantic view, seeing a new movie, or dining at a hot new restaurant. However, sometimes those may not be options for you. In this case, a romantic stay at home date night will have to do!
WHY CAN’T A COUPLE BREAK AWAY FOR A DATE?
Before you judge and think “I’m not staying home for a date, who does that?” think about some circumstances that could affect date nights. Here are three short examples:
My hubby and I have stay at home dates all the time. We live in a very rural area. To clarify, I live in a county with no Wal-Mart or McDonald’s let alone a movie theater or fine dining. Unless we want to drive more than an hour away, it’s just not always feasible. Since we both love cooking, we prepare a meal together and spend the time we need enjoying each other’s company.
We have friends who stay madly in love with each other by grilling out once a week. Simply put, they can’t afford to go out. This amazes me because the financial strains that they face would break any other couple. They both work two jobs and parent three wonderful kiddos. Every Friday night, like clockwork, they clear the slate, fire up their grill, sit on their patio, and just re-connect over an inexpensive dinner at home.
I have another friend who has mobility challenges. She’s recovering from an accident and is in a wheelchair temporarily. “Going out” for more than a quick doctor’s appointment or grocery-getting exhausts her. She and her hubby have a weekly movie night on the sofa…complete with popcorn, soda, and candy. She’s comfortable and able to focus on snuggling rather than worrying about her health issues.
Ok. So you can see that a date night at home really does work, right? Here are some tips for setting up an at home date night:
OFF WITH THE KIDS
You love the kids, but they’ve gotta go! Send them off to Grandma’s house, to a friend’s home for a sleepover, or hire a babysitter to take them to lunch or the park hours during the day. The promise of “I’ll stay in my room,” doesn’t cut it here!
You don’t take kids on date night out, so don’t include them on date night at home! Date night is time for you and your spouse to reconnect, rekindle, and reflect on your relationship. Kids are a distraction from this!
Even if you can only carve out two hours of alone time, that’s ok. Focus on the quality of the time.
DISCONNECT YOUR DEVICES
There’s nothing worse than a being on a date and having your significant other distracted by his cell phone, television, or any other device! My hubby is a workaholic and I often need to remind him to shut it down!
There are a couple of exceptions to this rule. First, using your phone for a romantic music playlist is ok…but shut off the text and phone notifications in your settings. The second exception is that you can have on the tv if you’re streaming a movie on a movie at home date. But the tv shouldn’t come on until it’s time to settle down on the couch!
NO WORK!
I am guilty of wanting to hop up from the dinner table to wash up the dishes as soon as I finish my meal. On date night, put the work aside, even if only for a couple of hours.
Date night at home isn’t the time for work. It’s easy to fall into the thought process of “I might as well wash clothes while I’m eating,” or thoughts of that nature. Block it out for that precious time together!
So if you are dining at home, leave the dishes to soak in the sink. If you’re having a movie, don’t organize the living room. Just sit back and enjoy!
SET THE MOOD
Part of the romance of a date is the ambiance. Recreate this, at least in some small way, at home. Your spouse will appreciate the effort!
Use your good tablecloth and nice plates and flatware. Light a candle to set the lighting. Turn on that aforementioned romantic song playlist. Make sure your movie is loaded and ready to play. Have a blanket to snuggle under on the couch.
These little details will help you make the most of your time.
STAY AT HOME DATE NIGHT IDEAS:
Now that a stay at home date night sounds like a good idea, here are a few ways you can create one at home.
- Cook a favorite meal together. Splurge on a luxury food that you both love!
- Have a casual cookout together. Toss the football playfully as you grill your food.
- Create a scrapbook together, focusing on memories you’ve built together. Have the supplies gathered, and talk about the good days.
- Light a fire in the fireplace and turn down the lights. Sip a cup of coffee or hot cocoa. Chat about only your dreams and goals. Block out “family discussions.”
- Stream a romantic comedy to your television.
- Instead of cooking, prepare a tray of fruits and cheeses and just relax together. No housework, no telephones. Just relaxation.
- Give each other foot massages or even mini-pedicures. The sense of touch is so important. And the foot rub feels great!
SUMMARY:
There may be weeks where you’re inclined to skip date night. Maybe you have a headache or you’re tired or stressed out by your job. Perhaps you had an unexpected bill and money is tight. Or, you just don’t feel like dealing with a crowded new restaurant.
Whatever your reason, don’t skip the date night! It’s too important to your relationship to miss. Instead, plan a stay at home date night and bring the romance into the home.
AUTHOR BIO: Deborah Tayloe is a freelance writer and contributor to Home Tip Top. She lives in Bertie County, North Carolina and enjoys the date nights she spends at home with her husband.
Follow Us!