DATE NIGHT… AT BUNNINGS?

DO YOU DO DATE NIGHT?

We never did. Ever. But this year, something shifted…

My husband and I have been together 10 years. 10 YEARS since I left Canada and moved to Australia, “temporarily”.  A mortgage, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 6 chickens, 2 guinea pigs, later, we are still here. But until recently, times were super tough.  I’m sure you know the feeling…non-sleeping babies who become clingy toddlers. Never enough time for everyone. Passing your partner like ships in the night. Even catch ups with friends seem a far away dream. You may become resentful of your other half, who although is also stressed out and sleep deprived, they are on a different level from you.  You CRAVE adult interaction. Getting away from these four walls. Wearing nice clothes. Perhaps even makeup.
But above all, you crave connection and LOVE, from the people you love most in your life.
And although those little people might give you plenty of connection (heck, mine are usually attached at the hip!), that just isn’t what you NEED to get through these years…or at least, it wasn’t for me.

So a few months ago, after the chat I did with Julia Jones on ‘Getting the Support you Need’, something clicked. And I asked my father in law if he would like to come to our house, every Wednesday night, to spend with our kids. To my shock, he said YES! 

This has become a win/win/win situation. The kids get one-on-one attention with their grandfather, he gets their undivided attention, and my husband and I get to do date night. You know, to fun places like…Bunnings!

Yes, seriously. We have also been to mini golf, the grocery store, Ikea…and dinner! The reality is, it doesn’t matter where we go, but that we get to go TOGETHER. Child free. Relaxed!

The difference this has made to my sanity, and our relationship, is massive. It’s taking that element of self-care to the next level.

Because being healthy is not just physical – its emotional, spiritual. Its allowing yourself to let go of Mummy guilt, to fill your cup which in turn gives YOU more to GIVE! 

Please share in the comments what you would do for date night, and help inspire us all to get out there and reconnect with our loved ones!