Let’s face it, after about the 5th month of pregnancy your life is pretty much consumed by your precious, life sucking children. You know you would not have it any other way, but many marriages and partnerships suffer because of it. Time together seems like a nice idea, but a lot of times between work, kids, and all things in between, it can seem like more work to have a date night. I know when I am blessed with a night to myself with my main squeeze, we usually are conflicted because we know we SHOULD go out, but we are simply spent and want to just stay home.
We have had a lot of fun doing things that are low key that has helped us to create a strong bond between us. So many times I have made the mistake in my relationships where I have forgotten to nurture my kinship with my partner and the bond suffered. It is important to maintain that intimacy through communication and sharing.

Here is a list of simple things you and your best beau can do together next date night that won’t break the bank, but will bring you closer.

Take a walk- Howell Wetlands and Wesselmans Nature Preserve Hold hands and walk through the trails we have in our area. Take in the sights, smells, and listen to the wind through the leaves. Quietly talk to each other as you rediscover what the world sounded like before the sounds of blood curdling screaming and fighting.

Paint/ repurpose something together
That old chair in the garage can be changed into a beautiful piece in the living room that you can enjoy together and serve as a reminder of how that night you found out how your spouse was afraid of chickens when they were twelve and you told them about how you chipped your tooth on a slide when you were 4. There are also so many ideas you can find online to repurpose something you have had lying around or found at Goodwill together.
You can also have your own paint and sip activities with a bottle of wine and some paints and conves. One of my most favorite date nights with my guy was when we went and got oil paints and wine. It was so quiet and relaxed- and so much fun!

Board Games/ Cards/ Checkers and Chess

Play a game together. It can get intense and fun. You will be amazed at your spouse’s competitive side, but wow him with your chess skills.

Rent Your Favorite Movies

Our favorite movies say a lot about us and we can learn so much about a person by watching them with them. “Oh this is my favorite part!”

Cook Together

Find a new recipe you both want to try, go to the store and get the ingredients, and cook and share a meal together. Yes, you cook every day, but this will be special.

Star Gazing

Go somewhere quiet and look at the stars together. The act of relaxing and discovering will bring you even closer together.

Backyard Camping

Channel your inner child and have an adventure in the backyard.

Park in the Dark/ Flashlight Walk

Make a bird house together or something else new for your home

Walk around the neighborhood

This goes along with the same idea of going on a hike, but if you are not one that likes to get too in touch with nature. Why not walks around the neighborhood? If your neighborhood sucks, go find your dream neighborhood and make goals and dreams together. “Oh, honey, lets buy that 8 bedroom house with two pools and a tennis court one day!”

Go on a nice drive

This is something I like to do. I can relax, look around, and we can just quietly talk.

Create a small Scrapbook

Look at different scrapbooks and family albums Share your documented memories with the one you are making your new memories with. It is so important to realize you don’t know every single thing about your partner. You can still discover new things and new reasons to love them.
It doesn’t have to be huge, but it will be special. Put your favorite memories made together and write little messages to each other. If done right, it will be a new treasure.

Take lots of selfies

Be silly, take selfies! Let loose and just be your goofy selves.

Sit down with a Drink

Whether it is a nice cup of warm tea, just the way you like it, or a glass of wine, sitting down over a drink is what people do when they first are getting to know each other, so why not try it again? Ask questions and share between sips. Sit close and look into each other’s eyes.

With all of these in mind, you need to be sure to unplug (unless you are taking a selfie). The electronics disconnect us so much, and this is practice in connection. Allow yourself to be reminded of why you decided you picked your person and enjoy those last few moments before the house is his by your little tornadoes again!

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