You’ve scheduled a date night, made childcare arrangements, and taken care of every other detail necessary for an evening together. Now comes the hard part: deciding where to go and what to do. That depends on what you desire from your date night – a chance to celebrate, an opportunity to relax and unwind, or an hour or two to reconnect.
Celebrate
If you are celebrating a special event, you just might want to go all out and enjoy dining at a special restaurant. It could be a favorite spot you save for special occasions or that new place you’ve heard about and wanted to try. Either way, getting dressed up and savoring a delectable meal in a beautiful setting is a great way to celebrate an anniversary, milestone birthday, job promotion, or anything else. Places like Viejas offer a warm and inviting atmosphere, as well as great food. A special event you’ll both enjoy and remember for years can also be a great way to honor a special occasion. Many communities have excellent local theater companies presenting plays and musical theater productions. Or, if you live in or near a big city, you may have a national touring company in town. Find a show that excites you both, buy some tickets, and enjoy a night on the town.
Relax and Unwind
More than anything else, you may just want to chill out together and decompress after a busy week. A movie night (at home or at the theater) may be just the ticket. Also, don’t forget that date nights can include others, too. A casual dinner with close friends might provide a great repose from home and work-related chaos and give you both the refreshment you need.
Reconnect
Every now and then, it’s great to set aside some time for some real conversation. Though you’ve seen each other every day since your last date night, maybe you haven’t shared an in-depth conversation since then. In that case, avoid the busy restaurant with the long wait for a table or the bar with a live band. Instead, head to a place where you can think and listen and linger. If you live near a beautiful natural setting, go there. Walk on the beach, hike on a trail, or take a dinner cruise. Use the time to catch up and share what’s been happening in each of your inner worlds.
Most importantly, don’t stress out too much about what to do. The important thing is that you set aside some time for a needed date night. Spending time together away from the kids can help improve your marriage and help reduce the stresses of everyday life.