Date Night

Is it just me, or does the concept of “date night” seem to have cropped up overnight? “Dating” my partner is an idea that seemed weird to me when I first heard it. Twelve years into marriage, however, I now see the point.

Life has a habit of moving forward. We get older, our calendars fill up with family, social, and work obligations, kids grow, and before we know it, months (or even years – eep!) have passed. And if you haven’t made the time for romance, you may find yourself without.

That’s what happened to me.

My husband works shifts – his twelve-hour shifts alternate between days and nights, with him working the entirety of every second weekend. I have long gotten used to making plans without him. When he’s home, we catch up with friends and family. No sign of romance!

When I tried to think of the last time we got away, just the two of us, I came up with a handful of walks through the woods, and that’s it – no date nights specifically intended for wooing, re-connecting as a couple, no relaxing vacations just the two of us. Our every waking moment is filled with work, obligations, family life.

So that’s what I’m going to try to accomplish this year: date nights are my resolution. Time to reconnect as a couple, to remember what butterflies feel like, to reignite the love that’s been taken a bit for granted.

Open to “date night” suggestions… leave a comment!

Natalie Rea

Mom to two amazing daughters - a feisty teen in middle school, and an ambitious young adult in university. Originally from Montréal's West Island, I now explore the beautiful trails of Hamilton, Ontario. Proud Canadian, vegetarian, dog-adopter, & bleeding-heart liberal. I smile a lot because I have Resting Bitch Face.