Dating Our Husbands

When we Moms are home with the children all summer, dates with our husbands are even more important than usual. We yearn for adult conversation and one-on-one time with our spouses.  Meeting the demands of lots of little people-day after day-is physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually exhausting at times.  If this is not high priority for your spouse, I suggest that you take the initiative to be creative and figure out ways to make weekly dates happen, until he catches the vision of this counsel from our leaders.  When this vital counsel is ignored, marriages suffer and relationships diminish.

Often, creating the time for dates and/or getting a sitter are roadblocks.  We are often exhausted and just want to flop into bed after a busy week of chauffeuring, nursing, refereeing, teaching, playing, cooking, cleaning, etc.  But a simple moonlit chat while walking around the block with your souse can be most rejuvenating.  It only takes a few minutes.  Maybe you can trade baby sitting with another parent a couple of times a month.
The following are ideas for cheap or free dates.
Walks and hikes
Trips to the library or bookstore to read books and magazines
Museums
Stargazing
Drives through the canyons

Picnic in various beautiful locations
Senior art shows and recitals at the university
Temple worship

Playing "What If"...we could go anywhere, do anything, win a million dollars?
Listening to favorite music, and maybe even dancing
Picnics on the bedroom floor
Driving down to the lake
Window shopping
Reading a book together
If you do not have children, make this a priority and a habit now.  Then it will be easier to maintain the habit after children come into your lives.
Talk about the importance of the weekly date with your spouse.  This is the most important relationship either of you will ever have. When the children are all gone, will your relationship still be intact, enjoyable, deepening?
If this a new plan in your home, set aside special time to talk about it.  Serve a nice dessert.  Don't give up just because you feel that you shouldn't have to take the lead or do all of the planning.  Make these occasions so irresistible that your spouse will look forward to them and get excited about his special time with you.
This one habit can greatly enhance your relationship and increase the love you have for each other.  Give it a try.
D. Baker
Copyright 2010