Mother Love

Dates are one of my favorite things ever. ever. ever.

I almost think that dates should receive their own love language category, but I guess you could argue that it’s more of an activity and not a way of loving. But there’s very little that fills up my little love tank than some kind of date with my handsome husband.

Dates can be all kinds of things, not just the dinner out + coffee afterwards that it usually is. I love going out to dinner, and I have to admit that my absolute favorite is a dinner spot that requires a nice dress, fancy hair, and a little extra makeup. Causal nights are super fun too, but there’s something about having to get all dressed up for a night on the town that feels so vintage and classic. Breakfast dates are another one of favorites (it’s starting to seem like all kinds of dates are actually my favorite…). I love breakfast more than any other meal, so to get out for a morning date is so super fun to me!

Like I said, dates don’t have to be all about going out or having a meal or coffee. A date is really about being together and consciously engaging with each other. That can happen on the couch in the evening with cups of tea and a treat, or a hike to a waterfall, or watching a movie together. A date can happen whenever or however you make it one.

From the beginning of our marriage, it’s been our goal to be intentional about dating and having date nights with each other. It doesn’t happen every week, which is our goal, but the point is not to make dating a hard nose rule…but to make it intentional. Life has so many different seasons, and depending on the season we find ourselves in, a date night out is harder than at other times. I know that having our first little one will change the way we do dates, and that’s ok. But that doesn’t mean we stop connecting and spending good and meaningful time together. Remember, it’s about being intentional, no matter how your dating looks in your season of life.

Here are some fun ideas for dating the one you love:

+ Go for a drive and use a flipping coin to determine which route to take at each intersection. If you need to cheat a little on the coin flip to end up an ice cream parlor or coffee shop, do it.

+ Make chocolate fondue and have a fun dessert on the couch with fruit, marshmallows, and pretzel sticks for dipping.

+ Think of ten fun things that you want to know about your date. Sit across from each other as you ask and answer the questions. Make the questions fun, not interrogative! (i.e. what is one thing you want to do for fun in the next year, what would you do with a thousand dollars right now, what was the best thing that happened to you this week, etc.)

+ Pick up take-out and find a random spot (i.e. the middle of the woods, courthouse steps, park bench in town, etc.) to eat together.

+ Go into a store and have each of you pick out one item in the store that the other has to find. The first person to find the item and text a photo of it to the other wins! Kisses are a great prize…and plus you both win that way, hehe.

+ Go shopping and pick out funky outfits for each other to try on. Take pictures and laugh together.

+ Have a snowball fight.

+ Do a community or mission project together (on my date bucket list).

+ Or, my favorite classic date…coffee and pastry at your favorite coffee spot.

What about you: what are some date ideas you have?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!