Date Night!

My family just spent an entire month quarantined. Sure, it was the shortest month of the year, but it was still four weeks of seeing no one but my husband and kids (and my mom occasionally since my parents had gotten sick too). We've had a lot of time together. Some of it was really nice. Some of it was really tough. 

I decided that my husband and I needed to celebrate the end of February 2021. So I planned a date night. 

image from 123rf.com

While planning Valentine's Day this year, I had fantasized about sending the kids to Grandma's for the night and getting a room for my hubby and I at a nice local place. Well, we still had COVID symptoms on Valentine's day so that didn't happen. Plus, I was apprehensive about leaving the baby overnight for the first time. So I decided our End-Of-COVID date night would just include a drive, dinner, and a little shopping. 

And talking. I don't know about you, but sometimes my hubby and I find it hard to make time for deep, meaningful talks. Even when quarantined in the same house for four weeks! There are always kids around and sometimes the conversations that need to happen are not made for their ears. After they go to bed, I'm just usually too tired to be very coherent. My brain has been working hard all day long trying to keep these kids alive and fed and doing what they are supposed to do, and it's like it flips off once they are all tucked in their beds. 

So we made the time, and I'm so glad we did! We were both able to get things off our chest and help each other out by listening well and responding without the interruption of little ones. It was our first date night without the baby and it was so nice to reconnect without his cute little disruptions. 

I think most of us know how great of an impact a healthy marriage has on a kid. It is absolutely necessary  that my husband and I take the time to communicate well in order for our kids to see what a good relationship looks like. It's important that we take the time to nourish our marriage. It's as if our marriage was another child that we have been given charge of. A very special child that will stay with us long after the other children have moved out. We can't neglect it!

I just want to encourage you mama, to take the time for the really important things. I know sometimes communication is very hard. There are often battle wounds from the past that might stand in the way. You don't want to be hurt again. I totally get that. 

However, the hardest work is the most rewarding. 

We are moms. We know all about that! Some things are just really worth the effort.

Blessings,

Lee