Each month I try to take a day off from work. A purposeful carving out of a day just for my groom and me. A date day.
The boy is at school and we get a lot more for our mileage, so to speak, by having most of the whole day to ourselves to do as we want. Not paying for a babysitter certainly helps! By having our dates in the daytime hours, this allows us to keep to our family time during weekends and evenings, and this speaks to our son that he is important and so are we all, as a family unit.
Our dates are a different color than a lot of people's. Many people take a date a week and we do that, too, and it's in the form of reconnecting over lunch together once or twice a week (sometimes more!). We are able to do this because of deliberate choices we made for one of us to be the home manager, thus allowing for flexibility in our schedules.
Some people go away once a month or once a year. That just isn't for us at this point in our lives. We try to connect on a regular basis, and for us we just can't fathom using up our only time off away from our family. I travel overnight enough for work and it's heartbreaking each time I say see-ya to my honeys. Say what you will about the importance of a couple sneaking away regularly; it's just not for us right now, and we're okay with that.
Often when my groom and I have a date day together, we spend money on the boy. It's a time to get what he needs or what we'd like to get him, without his constant interrupting or having to hurry. It's nice to reconnect and it's lovely to share in the joys of thinking of our son together.
Last week, our date day finished up with a quick trip to the grocery store on our way home (from yes, shopping for the boy!). We got the break apart bake-your-own cookies. Then we filled up our house with the aroma of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, and sat down with two glasses of milk and a plate full of the special treat, followed by playing a few games of Mario Cart (a Wii game) together.
It's the simple pleasures that bring my heart the greatest joy. It's the deliberate choosing to carve out time together and even when we don't have actual plans, the day stands out and says we're important.
And when our day is done and the little one comes barreling through the door, it's the boy's unending hugs that turn my attention right back to my groom. The gentleness of this little boy is learned through the gentleness of his daddy who loves without reservations. The purity and simplicity of their love, together with their appreciation for what we share together, shows me that it really is important to make time for each other.
I encourage you to unwrap the simple joys in your life.
Carve out time to just be together with those who are important to you on an everyday basis.
Even if you don't have specific plans, keep the day and create simple memories. Be a kid again and make cookies together, and maybe even play a few video games! It just might be what you need more than anything!
I’m visiting from Ann’s today – I’m working y way down the list, sorry it’s taken do long to get to you, but I’m glad I got here. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd just sayin’ – but remember – true love is letting him win – and then saying – like you mean it – adoring eyes and all – “You’re the man – I’m not worthy” – Speaking as a man – he will feel like a king – be all little boyish about it – but will remember – and who knows breakfast in bed may one day arrive – and that will be why :)
And this is wisdom – “unwrap the simple joys in your life.”
Thank you.
God Bless you and your hubs and your marriage