A date night hack

For everyone, but especially moms of littles

Do you go on regular dates? There are people who will say that it is important to continue to “date” your spouse. People who are single who want to be coupled often recognize that dating deserves consistency and dedication much like a job. Phases of life change, sure. Dating at 65 looks quite different from dating at 25.

I am someone who buys into the idea that dates are important, and I will admit that I have become lazy about making consistent dates happen in the last several years. When my husband Dan and I first had kids, we became very good about going out regularly (frankly, we appreciated the break from bedtime routines). Then the pandemic hit, and we stopped going out entirely. We never did rebuild our pre-pandemic habit of monthly date nights, even as other parts of regular life resumed and we built a healthy list of babysitters. Why?

Dan and I talked about this recently. In part, we realized we did not have many date ideas that excited us. If there was an event already planne…