HRM Parent Blog

A simple solution to consider - try planning a “Kid Date”.  Nope, not a play date with other kids, or a family date night (we’ll talk about that another time) - I’m talking about scheduling a special date with each of your children.   An evening visit to your local coffee shop, an afternoon at the Clay Café or hit the theatre for a movie.

Sure you may do lots as a family, or get some one-on-one time in the car on the way to hockey practice or during homework – but actually planning a special date just for you and your child will bring a whole new meaning to quality time. Letting each kid help plan their date with you, makes it all the more special. 

Just before Christmas, my husband and I planned dates with each of our daughters and it had such an impact that we promised to make it a more regular occurrence. In fact, it was only just a few days ago when our 4 year old asked me when her next date with us would be (and what sparked me to post this).  She’s already coming up with ideas of what we would do. 

We planned it on a Sunday afternoon and had a sitter come hang with our 4 year old, while we took our 2 year old on her date – the playground, a smoothie and the store for some stickers (all her ideas).  Then we brought her home to the sitter and took our 4 year old out for her date - lunch, the candy store and a trip to Woozles (her choices, of course).

It was so nice to spend some quality time with each of our children on their own, but even more importantly we realized how excited and proud each of them were to have us all to themselves for a bit.  We’re all looking forward to the next one, but I am especially excited about the tradition we’re building…cause something tells me, when I blink and they become drama-tweens who would rather spend time at the mall with their friends, we’ll cherish our dates with them even more!