The Day Date is the New Date Night Out!

My husband and I have spent years changing diapers, making dinners (that no one eats), cleaning up piles and piles of toys, nursing sick kiddos, and reading books at bedtime. What we haven’t done much of these past nine years is spend time alone together. (Unless of course you count the 20 minutes after the kids go to bed and before I head up to wash my face.)

Our children were once three babies under three years old. Life was tough. We didn’t always put each other first – we couldn’t! As the years have passed, they have gotten older. They are six, seven, and eight years old now, and all in school. COVID has made working from home the new normal for us. We have found that one of the most underrated, best-kept secrets no one is talking about is THE DAY DATE!  

Location, Location, Location…

Here’s a picture from our latest “day date” at The New Hudson Inn. It’s located on Grand River in New Hudson, MI. It was established in 1831 and it’s the oldest operating bar in Michigan. From the outside it resembles an old saloon with a giant wrap-around porch. The patio has ample outdoor seating, and you will often hear live music bellowing from the backyard. The staff is really friendly and they have a way of making everyone feel welcome. The smoked buffalo wings are amazing and their white trash nachos are to die for! Trust me! Would I recommend it for a day date? Absolutely. 

But here is the secret…. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU GO!

A day date can be a quick stop for breakfast before you log into work. Grabbing an ice cream or coffee mid-afternoon to decompress. How about a run together on your lunch break? It doesn’t matter where you go… just GO! During the day, finding just a little bit of time to be together – just you and your partner – can really breathe new life into your relationship.  

Just Make Time! 

It’s a choice, just like everything in your life. Choosing each other doesn’t always look like extravagant gifts, luxury vacations, and Instagram-worthy dinners out on the town. Sometimes, it’s carving out just a little time during the day when the house is still – and the kids are at school, daycare, or dance class – to just check in. If we don’t prioritize our partners, our work and family obligations can easily take over. Relationships aren’t one big thing, they are a series of small things. A day date is the prefect opportunity to connect with our partners and make a new memory, no matter how small. 

And the Truth Is…

After my husband and I slide into the booth at the diner on the corner, we open our menus and we immediately start talking about our children. Funny things they’ve said, cute things they’ve done, grabbing our phones to show each other pictures of them…

After all, we are still Mom and Dad.  

Have a great idea for a day date? We’d love to hear ’em! Check out this guide to a date night in Ann Arbor!