Dump the Mom Frump: Date Night

The last time my husband and I went out to eat, we had two dinner companions who needed their food cut, their milk refilled, and their crayons rescued from the floor. Over and over again.

We used to go on dates. You know, just the two of us.

It’s been so long that the idea of a date seems just vaguely familiar now.

Urban Dictionary offers this definition for the word date:

Two people getting together for an activity when the possibility of romance between them has been broached but not ruled out. Since the exploration of romance is the purpose of a date, merely asking someone out on a date is sufficient to broach the subject. Dates may or not continue once a couple have entered into a romantic relationship.

That last part, “may or may not continue” makes me laugh, because as a mom of two young children, I have to admit that I’ve not made enough effort lately to actually date my husband.

We’ve been out a handful of times in the last two years. Before that, we made it a point to go out one night each month.

We used that time to reconnect, talk and not talk about our kids, and remind ourselves of why we fell in love in the first place.

With no diaper bag to shlep, no ketchup smeared on my shirt, and no mid-meal emergency potty trips, we were able to focus on one another.

But over the past couple of years, the thought of all of the effort that goes into having a date, from scheduling a sitter to prepping the kids to shaving my legs (hey, I’m being honest here), has pushed dating to the bottom of my list.

I realize now that those dates did something more for me, though. They made me feel pretty and important. My husband is wonderful about complimenting me, but there’s something special in his eyes on date night, when there are no distractions.

In his eyes, I see a reflection of the woman I was when we fell in love. That’s worth shaving my legs for.

So, if you’re like me and haven’t made date night a priority, plan something!

Here are some fun ideas to get you started…

One Gift That Lasts All Year: A Basket of Date Nights
How to Set the Scene for Stay-at-Home Date Night
Rules for a Successful Date Night

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to shave my legs. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Also in this Dump the Mom Frump series, don’t miss these posts:

Dump the Mom Frump: Grab Your Water Bottle
Dump the Mom Frump: Add These 10 Foods to Your Diet
Dump the Mom Frump: Try These Stylish Clothes That Are Still Comfortable
Dump the Mom Frump: Try These 11 Simple Beauty Products
Dump the Mom Frump: Read…And Don’t Read

You can also find Nichole over at in these small moments and on Facebook and Twitter too!