We have always encouraged to kids to come to us with what they need emotionally and relationally. So when they are desiring some personal time they "ask for a date." Being that Sean and I rarely go out and spend money on dates ourselves, these outings need to be of little or no cost. Normally, a trip to the store will pacify the younger kids, but I'm finding that we need to get a little more creative with the older ones these days.
Tonight Lydia and I slipped away after dinner for a date. We took our time looking through the racks at Goodwill for skirt or dress material that could be made into throw pillows for the bedroom makeover. We came away with these goodies to add to our collection.
Next we headed on over the Barnes and Noble for a free cup of hot tea with sugar and cream. Heather's hospitality has us hooked on our new beverage of choice. We sipped our tea at Bed Bath and Beyond while sitting in massage chairs and enjoying one another's company.
It seems that the kids have a lot more energy at the of the day than we do. It takes effort for Sean and myself to either go or to stay behind for such excursions. But there is only one today.
4 comments:
What a fun (and frugal) time out for you two!
I think it is such a great idea to have them ask - I think you have mentioned this before. What a great way for them to learn to express what they are feeling too.
That's so great! Michael and I used our free coupons for a date earlier this week. :)
That sounds like fun! It's wonderful that you make time for them like that.
She will always remember those times!
When my twin daughters started middle school/high school we started this notebooking between us. They each had their own notebook that they shared with me. It was private between me and each of them. We could ask each other anything or share anything we wanted to in those notebooks...dreams, pictures, stories, jokes, thoughts, etc. When they were done writing, they would leave it somewhere for me and then I would write something and leave it for them. We did this for several years and went through many notebooks.
One of my daughters (who is getting ready to turn 21 in a couple of weeks) just recently brought up that memory about her notebook and told me she really liked doing that and she is going to do that with her own daughter. It meant a lot to her. :-) We never know how much things we do will impact our children do we?
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