WifeAdvice.com

I had a great time reading through all the date night suggestions as they rolled in over weekend.  But, if you’re anything like The Donkey, the thought of reading all 275 comments was a bit daunting.  Following is a compilation of all the ideas we collected, plus a few thoughts of my own.  Unfortunately, it was too difficult to reference each commenter, but they can all be found on the original Date Night Giveaway post.

Too many people mentioned that it had been months or even over a year since they had been on a date.  There was a time when The Donkey and I fell into that category, but we fixed that, and so should you!  It is essential that you get out and spend time together; you can’t use children (too young, too many) or money (not enough) as an excuse.  I suggest you set up some dating rules:

• Make it a priority.  Don’t wait for it to happen on it’s own, or when the kids are older, or when you have more money.  Decide now that your relationship is important enough to merit a little alone time once in a while.
• Go out regularly. Once a week is ideal, but if you’re starting from scratch, you might try once a month or every other week at first. (This can happen regardless of your budget or kid situation… see below for lots of ideas, and mix and match different types of date nights to suit your needs.)
• Plan ahead. Do it on the same night each week, or if your schedule isn’t consistent, get together at the beginning of each week, and set a time for that week’s date.  Get creative with the scheduling–even if it means a lunch date one week and an early-morning or late-night trip to the gym together the next week.
• Take turns planning your dates.  I’ve written about this before.  It’s a great way to be sure you are both pulling your weight, and both having a say in what kind of dates you have.
• Get out of the house and away from your kids.  Yes, a quiet night at home can be great, and yes there are ways to bond as a couple, even with kids around, but there is something to be said for walking away and leaving it all behind for a couple hours. (I always make a point to plan our dates during the kids’ dinner and bedtime hours–if I’m taking a night off I really want it to be a night off!)  Having said that, there are still times when kids are around, and when you can enjoy a nice night at home.  Lots more details on that below.

Great Date Ideas From Our Readers

Go on a Classic Date

• Dinner – keep list of restaurants you want to try
• Dinner and a Movie
• Dinner cruise
• Go out for breakfast or lunch
• Go dancing – lessons or drop-in night at studio, or a dance club or hall
• Dress up, fancy restaurant, night on the town
• Grab takeout food: Eat at home, at a park, near some water
  
• Dessert Only Date: indulge on the decadent treats you are usually too full to enjoy
  

Visit a Local Place of Interest

Be Creative

• Coffee shop
• Café
• Ice cream shop
• Blanket at a park
• Star Gazing
• Go on a drive – canyon, new construction
• Sunset
• Walking – park, waterfront, lake, trail, take cameras
• “verbal card” why you love each other… renew vows
• People watching – make up stories and conversations
• Beach
• Take cards or other game
• Pier or boardwalk

• Drive around new construction sites or fancy houses in the hills
• Go Window shopping
• Plan dream home
  

• Grocery shop
• Yard sale
• Do some actual errands that are easier to run without the kids
  
• Bookstore – browse the aisles together, or sit down and look through books together
• Walk the mall: Window shop, people watch
  
• Browse a furniture store, department store,  Target, or Home Depot
  
• Make-Believe: Drive around new construction or fancy houses in the hills; plan your dream home
  
• Gift-giving: Buy a gift together for the house, or buy food or gifts for each other at a particular location

• Recreate first date, first kiss, proposal spot – location, movie, food, etc.
• Read old letters, journals
• Watch wedding video
• Something you used to do, but never do anymore
• Take pictures during your dates

• Bed and breakfast
• Historical place of interest
• Spa – couples massage
• Local hotel – swim, Jacuzzi, sleep in
• Road trip
• Couples resort

Enjoy a Quiet Night at Home
Quite a few people suggested a quiet night at home after the kids have gone to bed, especially for last-minute dates or nights when you don’t have a babysitter.  I think it’s extremely important to get out of the house–especially if one spouse is normally at home full-time–but there are still some fun ways to spend a night at home…

• Set the mood at home: clean house, candles, flowers, romantic music, nice food and drink, fine china and wine glasses, flower petals
  
• Rent a movie (keep a running list of movies you want to see, or use Tivo or Netflix)
• Watch episodes of favorite tv show
• Fold laundry and talk
• Take-out
• Pizza delivery
• Ready made food from grocery store
• Indoor picnic
• Back Porch - rocking chairs
• Back Yard - fire pit
  
• Candle-lit dinner
• Snuggle by the fireplace
• Play video games
• Have snack and junk food on-hand – popcorn, M&Ms, cheese and crackers, fruit; strawberries and chocolate
• Wine or sparkling cider
• Cook a meal together
• Unplugged night – no lights, electronics, computers, or movies… just light some candles and spend time together
  
• Bubble bath
• Set up air mattress (or a big pile of blankets and pillows) in front of tv, have a “sleepover”
• Board games, card games
  
• Dancing

What About The Kids?
Is there still dating after kids?  Hopefully–this is the time when you need it most!  Sure, your kids are important, but so is your marriage; let your kids see that.  Still, it does get a bit complicated trying to make it work.  Set dating as a priority, no matter how young your children are.  A few ideas to get you started…

• Swap babysitting with a friend or family member
• Use in-laws; most Grandparents love to have a few extra hours with their grandkids
• Set up sleepovers for your kids at their friends’ houses
• Go on short dates if that’s all you can manage — even a brand new infant can manage an hour or two away from mommy, and it will make a world of difference for you!
• Take advantage of times the kids are away at camps or school (have lunch together, or take a day off work to have a daytime date)

When all else fails, find ways to connect, even when your kids are around…

• Go to a drive through movie with sleeping kids in car
• Take a young, sleeping baby along with you to dinner or dessert
• Eat and visit while kids play at a park or a playplace
• Lock yourself in your room while kids run amuck (assuming they’re old enough)
• Go to a bike, walking trail… let kids ride ahead you lag behind and visit
• Get kids to camp out in a room with munchies and a movie, leaving the house to you

Don’t Break The Bank
We’ve listed plenty of dates that would work for a budget-conscious couple;  here are some more specific tips for continuing to date, even when money is tight