a new family tradition for date nights

Matt and I have started a new tradition. We have started having date nights with our children. Previously, we would have date nights with each other as a couple and try our best to have one on one moments with our children whenever we could. As our children are growing older fast, we have decided it is time to set up working on our relationship with our children. We have always been mindful of our children growing up in a large family and try hard to make time in our schedule to prioritise our spending time with them. It was from this thinking that we decided to start date nights with each of our children.

Our new tradition is that once a week, Matt and I take out a child on a date. Just one child with both us together. We arrange a babysitter to come over for 2 hours at the same time every week and during those 2 hours we take out a child. For our date nights we go where that specific child would love to go, we keep it simple and we talk. Really talk to them. For those 2 hours they have our undivided attention. Every child in our family knows that they will get their turn and they look forward to going out with us. So therefore, each child in our family get's a date every seven weeks.

Some of our dates have simply been out to get an iced chocolate, a trip to the playground and we have even had a few visits to the Sushi Train. We talk to them about school life, home life, how we are going as parents, how they are feeling about themselves and give them an opportunity to ask us any questions. We have loved all of our dates with our children and love the chance to have a deeper chat with them without any interruptions from other children!

We have been reminded on these dates just how wonderful, talented, incredible and amazing our children really are. They are clever, kind, loving and funny each in different ways. I can't help myself when I go out with them, I just want to hug them and kiss them the whole time we are out! 

Since we have been focusing on having date nights with our children, I have also been looking for more opportunities to have date days with them as well. I took Nathan with me on a date day to Sydney during the week to attend a Skylanders Giants blog event. We flew down in the morning and spent the day in the city walking around together. We had a lovely time walking, talking and taking in the sites. The weather was gorgeous and Nathan was such wonderful company.

Our favourite part of the day was checking out the Sydney Opera House. It is just so unique. Nathan was really excited to see it now that he is a little older and it has been many years since we lived in Sydney. After spending several hours playing tourists we headed off to the blog event to learn a little more about the new Skylanders Giants game coming out soon. Nathan was in Skylander Heaven and I loved the large Spyro they have in the Activision Office!

Danielle and I put our game faces on and finally had a chance to play the Skylanders game ourselves. We were even spoilt to try out the new Skylanders Giants game that is coming out in a couple of months. With 12 children between us, it is hard to get a chance to have fun on these games when your children are always hogging it! 

We finished up our day with a flight home and were delighted to be back with the rest of our family again. Since starting these date nights and date days, Matt and I have noticed that our children come and talk to us more, they talk positively about spending time with us and chat to each other about what new idea's they can come up with to spend time with us as parents. I don't know how long we will keep this new tradition up for, but for our family right now, this is a tradition that is bringing greater happiness to our home.