A story about "Date night" with your child isn't new. Plenty of parents regularly enjoy a night out with one kid at a time, focusing all of their attention on them, while siblings stay at home. I wrote about a movie night out with my son (a hoot until I nearly choked on a kernel of popcorn) and Julie Cole, mother of six, wrote about a new kind of date with her kids.
My son and I have been on plenty of dates together, just the two of us: movies, dinners out, walks around the block, a day at the amusement park. It's always easy and enjoyable for both of us.
The one-on-one time spent with my daughter lately has mostly consisted of trips to the doctor or a specialist or a visit to speech therapy. Routine and mundane, not particularly special or memorable — not really dates at all.
Recently I took my daughter out for dinner. Just us girls. We sipped our drinks and coloured on the paper table cloth while we waited for our meals. My girl insisted on sitting on the same side of the booth as me, pressed tight against my side. If a guy ever sat that close to me on date, I'd have made him pay for dinner.
The restaurant wasn't fancy, the food wasn't particularly great either. But that didn't matter. We were out together and 100% of my attention was on her. That's all she really wants. No cell phone, no competition for my attention with her brother or her dad, no distractions.
Yes the server had to wrap up the kids' meal, which was merely picked at because she was too distracted to eat.
Yes, she fidgeted in her seat and squirted the ketchup and dropped fries on the floor.
Yes, she stood up and leaned over the booth to talk to the two ladies (who were so sweet and kind by the way) seated behind us.
Yes, she spilled her water down the back of my pants and I had to walk out of the restaurant with a dark moist stain down the back on my jeans.
No, it's not always easy taking my special girl out on the town, but is it enjoyable?
Absolutely. And when she thrusts her small hand into mine as we walk to the car, I feel lucky to have her all myself.
Cheers to date night.
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