Getting the butterflies was fun on the first date — but it doesn’t have to stop there.
By: Andrea Updyke
When schedules are filled with work obligations, school responsibilities and household needs, going on a date with your spouse can seem like a luxury.
Spending a few moments each week together is a great way to tackle your busy lives as a team. Doing so is good for your family and great for your marriage. Whether you meet for lunch every Friday, try out the latest restaurant or go for a walk, making time for your spouse shows how much you care and can nurture your relationship. And the best part is, you get to have fun!
Check out these five reasons to date your spouse and start planning your next date!
Reconnect
Set an evening or weekend afternoon aside to go “device-free” and reconnect with your significant other. Talk about the highs and lows of your week over a cup of coffee or a slice of pie. Make eye contact and really try to listen to what the other is saying. Even an hour of undivided attention can go a long way in reinforcing your relationship.
Recharge
Taking time away from your children and various obligations can feel like a mini vacation. A date doesn’t have to be the typical dinner and a movie — nowadays, the classic date night can get pricey and take several hours you both just can’t afford. Plan your dates around your personal lifestyle and what can comfortably fit into your schedule. Even simply going for a walk or taking a drive can be just what you need to boost your communication.
Relate
Dating your spouse sends the message that you are still interested in pursuing him, even when life gets busy. Chances are you have grown together over the years and have fallen into various roles within your marriage. Talk about the stresses and strains of your daily grind and discuss how you can take them on together. Share your dreams and look for ways to help each other make them a reality.
Remember
Whether you have been married one month or 30 years, going on a date with your spouse is a great reminder of where it all began.
Do you remember what it was like when you first started seeing one another? Regardless if it was a silent, gradual courtship or instant electricity, rekindling those feelings of excitement is good for your mind. Think about what you talked about when you first started dating. Was it a funny movie or certain type of music? How have your interests evolved and changed? Reminisce about a really great story or holiday together. Sometimes all it takes is a trip down memory lane to have a great soul-cleansing laugh and truly enjoy each other.
Relax
Taking care of a household, working and raising children can be a recipe for chaos and stress. So often couples are running in different directions that meeting in the middle seems next to impossible. But a standing date night doesn’t have to be perfect — it doesn’t have to be fancy, either. It simply needs to be a priority so you can have a few moments to slow down and take inventory. And, as an added bonus, when children see their parents caring for each other well, they learn from a great example of love and a life well-lived.
Originally Published: https://www.pgeveryday.com/family-life/family-bonding/article/return-to-date-night-why-its-important-to-date-your-spouse
