So I went to see “New Moon” this weekend. I have been looking forward to it for months! And yes, I was one of the older people in the theater. And yes, I think Robert Patterson is hotter than hell! But in the final analysis I did not think the movie was as good as “Twilight”, a movie which reminded me that 1) vampires are actually much cooler and better dressed then I expected and 2) I needed to plan more “date nights.”
I really don’t like the term “date night.” I feel like there is so much pressure — like we are supposed to easily switch off our day-to-day roles and somehow slip back to the carefree days of our old selves…. days, say, when my husband did not openly pick his nose in front of me…. days when I could drink a bottle of wine and not be completely incapacitated the next day.
People talk about it a lot here but rarely stick to it and I totally get it. It’s just so hard to feel romantic and energized when you have young kids pulling at you all day long and what’s worse, a dinner out at a restaurant really just does not cut it.
But it is so important to do! To feel connected to your significant other as well as reclaim the side of yourself that exists outside of your daily role.
That being said, I decided to do a little internet search to find what cyberspace suggested to do on a “Date” and I nearly had an aneurysm at the thought of some of these suggestions. Surely they can’t be serious? Granted it’s from RedBook mag but COME ON!!!!
Run don’t walk to read this…..100 Date Ideas
So when I was finished feeling VERY creeped out out over the RedBook list I tried to think of date ideas in NYC that would be transporting and memorable. Since I can’t ride in a hot air balloon over NYC without getting shot down by the military and I certainly can’t ask the pizza guy to cut a pie into the shape of a heart without being laughed out of town I thought that it’s best to look for ideas that put you in a new environment.
And just this morning, literally, I was at the checkout counter at Whole Foods when I noticed the new Time Out Magazine. The cover said “Great Dates! – the most romantic New York nights out.” Check it out.
Do you have a date night? What do you like to do?
-Dina
Comments (14)
Yo know what Dina my husband and I JUST started to do the occasional date-night after 3 years of having kids and realising we don’t talk about much else. It is a revolution to us and you are dead right about how important it is for your relationship and yourselves. We’re still inthe slightly boring just go to the pub stage but I love the ideas here and willlook to convert some to the London date-landscape!
My husband and I have a sitter every Thursday night and usually we explore a (to us) unknown restaurant. Not very adventurous at all, but fun!
We order a bottle of wine, and chat a lot. We’re usually home before 11PM, because we’re not 24 anymore, and obviously we get up early. It’s not like old days, but I love it!
We do date night, every other week. I don’t think it matters what you do, just get out of the house and have a nice relaxed evening for just the two of us. Most of the time we are boring like Esther!, explore new restaurants, but also if there is an evening opening in the Modern Tate or so, we will mix with some culture. I think for us the point is, to spent time together and catch up a bit. at home there are always still so many things to do that we rarely spent more than an hour sitting down talking…..
Funny t his posting comes today when I have a date night tonight 🙂 which I am looking forward to, and dreading at the same time. Seriously! I have a 7-month old who goes to bed late (8:30pm is a good night). The stress of having to rush to get him him down, knowing he will freak out when left with the sitter, and hoping that he will have a good night and not “punish” us all makes me wonder why you can’t organise a date night at home sometimes… And is the outing worth the fretting beforehand? Do you stop fretting of you do it more often? Also, if i go out, I wish it could be like before carefree and easy, but it won’t be. I will be more tired the next day. So how do you manage to have fun, but yet balance the logisitics of it all?
I can’t bring myself to start “date night” as I think I don’t want to let go of my spontaneous self; yes I am still in denial of what the reality of being a mommy is. That said, you definately need to go out! We try to book tickets for gigs regularly, that way we have paid already so have to go and can’t talk ourselves into it being easier to stay in!
I love it when I am out at gig, dancing around to a band we have liked for years or pretending we know the next big thing, it is true mommy excapism 🙂
We’ve had one date night since Max was born 5 months ago now – we had planned to do it more regularly and will try to do so in the New Year.
Like Esther, we have a standing appointment with our sitter and even if we go sit in a movie theater and only talk for 15 min during the previews, it’s the best. It’s “us” time and I cherish any glimpse of it. PS we too saw New Moon together and LOVED it.
That picture is hilarious! love date night, on that thought, better go schedule a sitter…
I have just stopped breast-feeding my 7-month-old, and only now am I even starting to notice my husband!
Having a new baby in the house can totally zap the energy from you, and there’s no way you really feel like going out and doing things, staying up late, etc.
But I think it’s important. And I’m starting to feel a bit like my old self again… so maybe we’ll start ‘dating’ again! 🙂
My husband and I often have lunch dates. This way we don’t give up precious sleep.
We try to go out regularly, although it’s not a fixed day every week…. but I just love it and need it.
I admit some of our “date nights” are spent with other friends, but it was the same when we were REALLY dating!
The important thing sometimes is just to be an adult among other adults
gawd. i wish ……
My husband and I have the occasional “date lunch.” Our work schedules are flexible so we can go to a nice restaurant, drink wine at lunch, and then return to an empty apartment together… (while our daughter is at preschool).
keep up the good work D-nice! its always great to get out w friends as well, even if the talk is all about kids and family. just throw in a bottle of wine, beer, whatever just make sure drinking is involved. I also like the little wknd trip, even if its a short trip up to conneticut doesnt matter where just go somewhere for a day or 2 for a break! and then Baum chika baum baum!