Date Night Ideas For Parents
My husband and I recently decided we needed to find some date night ideas just for parents–time alone to just be, time to step outside our roles as mother and father, house frau and handyman, disciplinarian and bedtime enforcer.
Having time away from the monotony and sometimes drudgery of parenthood was like an infusion of new breath and perspective into this little family unit we've created and gave us a new appreciation for each other and, of course, our kids.
But before you think this renewal could only be achieved via a carefully planned weekend away, here are a few easier-to-organize Date Night Ideas For Parents options!
Four surefire ways to get your romantic date night on including a recipe for pasta alfredo with roasted tomatoes and blackened shrimp
1/ Let food be your guiding light.
Karen Sherman, Ph.D. says date nights will be most effective if they are truly about the two of you and mo enjoyable. Therefore, no talking about kids, bills or problems. She suggests either:
a/ Create a meal or dessert together ( Like this Apple Cobbler for Two) and then feed it to each other.
Or whip up this pasta alfredo with roasted tomatoes and blackened shrimp is a Great dinner and I'm so grateful to fellow Weight Watchers fan Madonna for sharing it with us!
According to Madonna it was just four points!
Ingredients:
1 Bag of pasta zero,
classico Alfredo sauce
50 grape tomatoes
6 blackened shrimp
Red Argentina spice
spritz of olive oil
the secret ingredient is PASTA ZERO It's in the produce section where the vegan stuff is – Half the bag is 0 points and whole bag is 1 they are made from chick peas!
And this blacked spice!
Directions:
Make sure you rinse the pasta zero well ( they are packed in water and smells like tuna fish so just giving heads up to rinse till no smell) then put in pan with nothing else and heat up till the noodles aren't watery from tbe rinsing.
Roast grape tomatoes at 400 degrees for about 50 min
Madonna had 1 pound of shrimp she made the night before on her shrimp berry salad. There were 6 left over that we didnt eat. I use the blackened seasoning Red Argentina, the shrimp are already cooked and cleaned. I sautéed the shrimp in pan with spritz of olive oil!
And speaking of salad This shrimp berry salad is delicious as well! Madonna used arugula, blueberries, strawberries black raspberries, one tablespoon of Gorgonzola crumbled cheese, two tablespoons of Marie's raspberry vinaigrette and blackened shrimp and then she used a tablespoon of salad Toppers which is cranberries and candied walnuts! It is a 4-point salad!
b/ Order a pizza but eat it by candlelight and then put on music and dance with each other rather than wait for a wedding.
2/ Play a GAME!
We love This all-inclusive converter GAME table which is multiple games in one. Fully equipped, table tennis, slide hockey, pool, and foosball combination kit comes with all the basics.
3/ Open a bottle of wine and take the QUIZ PLUNGE!
101 Quizzes for Couples is designed to spark dynamic conversations between couples, no matter if they've been dating three years or married three decades. Unlike other quiz or question books, 101 Quizzes for Couples was written not only with practicality in mind (as in, what questions do couples “actually” want to answer?) but the author designed the quizzes to get couples to reveal memories and opinions that don't typically come up organically. Ranging from silly to sexy to existential, the questions in the book help deepen relationships and allow couples to truly bond — all for only $10. 🙂
4/ Start a “Thursday Night Ritual”
According to Sharon Gilchrest O'Neill, Ed.S., LMFT and author of A Short Guide to a Happy Marriage who has been married for 30 years this not typical nor traditional date night was one of the behaviors that she and her husband have counted on in their marriage over at least 20 of their 30 years together.
It became something that kept them connected week after week, through the good times and the bad. They never called it a “date night,” but it was a few hours on a Thursday night after all their work and chores, etc. were ended, when they shared anything as simple as watching a favorite show together.
It became a comforting ritual that they counted on, through good moods and bad ones, through times of little talking … no matter what.
Here are her tips for establishing a Thursday Night marriage ritual that never ends:
1/ It is best done every week, at the same time, and for at least 2 hours;
2/ It should be something that is simple, doable, and works for both of you as a team;
3/ Only emergencies should take precedence over your ritual – it is time together you can always count on;
4/ This is not a “date night” – it is special time that becomes a ritual you truly look forward to and enjoy 52 times a year; &
5/ No matter how badly you may be feeling at times about your marriage nd spouse, your ritual must go on!
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