Date night

Last night, my husband and I had a rare date night.  It was spontaneous, carefree...and so much fun.

Image credit: Sklathill | Flickr

When you become a parent, your world naturally shifts focus.  From that point onwards, it revolves around your child; making sure they are safe, secure, happy and healthy.  It can be easy for your relationship with your wife/husband/partner to take a back seat - after all, you're a Mum and Dad first and a couple second.  That becomes the natural order of things.

So it was a real surprise when I arrived home from work yesterday evening to be told by my husband to get my glad rags on.  We were off for a night at the cinema to watch the new James Bond film, Skyfall.  I got almost giddy with excitement.

Back when my husband and I were just a twosome, we used to be regular cinema-goers.  We loved our films.  Since having children though, we've obviously not been able to go as frequently as we used too.  In fact, last night was only the third time this year that I've seen a film at the cinema (and only the second time this year that I've been with just my husband - back in January, my cinema experience involved my then two-year-old daughter and Alvin and the Chipmunks).

I certainly wasn't going to turn this opportunity down.  I got the children into their pyjamas and myself into some nice, casual clothes.  My mother-in-law came over to take on the babysitting duties and my husband and I made a timely exit from our home.

We had around an hour to spare before the film began so decided to go for a drink beforehand.  Off we took ourselves to one of those bars you think are really cool when you're younger but when we get older, you realise it's all a bit embarrassing.  Our drinks were served in plastic glasses.  I think that's about all that needs to be said.

See these glasses? Plastic.

We talked, we laughed and we had fun.  Pretty soon, it was time to head to the cinema for Skyfall and off we went.  I won't spoil it for you and reveal anything about the film.  I will simply say, you must go and watch it.

I really like the idea of 'date nights'.  I firmly believe that a couple needs time just being a couple now and again.  If nothing else, it's an opportunity to talk about anything apart from the topic of parenting; to remind each other of the fun you have and the reasons why you're together; to remember that there's more to you than just being a mother or father (not that there's anything wrong in that of course!); to reconnect as a couple.  I hate leaving my children but will force myself to in order to spend some quality time with my husband and let him know that I value his company and love spending time with him.

How about you?  Do you believe in date nights?