We planned one kid per week and we rotated between Terry and I taking them. It was all good in theory and totally backfired on us . . . for a couple of reasons.
First, once a week is A LOT! Terry and I don't even go out that much so the time issue was a problem and the money issue too, the other problem I never saw coming . . . I don't even know what to call it . . . the kids started expecting it, but not just expecting, demanding, feeling entitled to, really getting ornery about it, always expecting more, instead of being appreciative and excited about their dates like we thought they would. So dates came to a grinding halt until Terry and I could regroup, have a few FHE lessons on being grateful and threw in a couple service projects to hopefully help them realize how blessed they are, and this year dates are back on the map!
We started youngest to oldest because having to wait 4 long months for a 3 year old is super hard! The older kids can grasp that April is coming. We sit down with the kids and the calender and write their name on their day so they can see it coming and start getting excited.
Janie went first. She wanted to be pampered so she got her hair cut, at the "hair cut store" then got to pick out a nail polish color and "make-up" (cherry flavored blistex). We came home and did a makeover and I fixed her the special lunch she picked out . . . artichoke . . . her very own and nobody else got one . . .she was thrilled.
It was a great afternoon, simple and easy and fun to focus on just her for a few hours. Hopefully our attempt this time will have a different out come then we experienced the last go round :)
2 comments:
Are you still doing one a week? Have you changed things? What do the other kids do while you have your "date" with one kid? I would like to do something like this, but don't quite know where to start.
Hi Sara! Love the date night idea...Daniel and I do something similar where 1 child gets to stay up an hour longer than the other kids and spend time with Daniel and I. It's every Wed. night. They get to pick the activity and everything. Mostly we play games and eat treats but it works well for us and we're not having to fork out more $. Miss you guys. I also need your email address cuz I've gone private with my blog.
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