Date Night!

By Lauren Falber

I remember how much fun I used to be before I had my son. I remember dressing up and fixing my hair and makeup and just being carefree and pretty, but boy, how things have changed.

The days run together and I usually just recycle through my 11 pairs of super, comfy sweat pants. I just went shopping not too long ago and when I got home my husband wanted to see what I got. I showed him. His face said it all. I had just bought more t-shirts. No style and definitely not flattering, but they go really well with my sweats and since we don’t have time to go out, who cares what I wear?

Then I started talking to some friends. They spoke about such wonderful things such as going out with their husbands and getting their hair fixed and being kid-free for just a few hours a week. Was this idea possible? How did they do it?

I don’t have a lot of people that I can just call up to watch my two-year-old son Jaxsyn, and I have only left him with three different people his whole life, but this date night sounded wonderful.

I had a hard time picturing date night in my head. Not having to change diapers, or clean up messes, or make dinner, or give baths. And then I started feeling guilty that I was looking forward to this date night. This is my baby I am talking about, and I love taking care of him and being there for him no matter what. I was at a conflict stand-still.

My husband insisted that we go out.

“It doesn’t have to be for long, let’s just grab a beer or something,” he said.

I called my parents, Memaw and Poppi, and they couldn’t wait to see their grandbaby. I knew that he would be in good hands, and so I agreed.

I started getting ready and was putting on makeup and clean clothes that didn’t stretch when it hit me. I hadn’t been out –  alone with my husband – in a long time. I was excited. I was eager to learn something new about my husband and actually have grown-up conversations. I was nervous too. I wasn’t sure that I would be able to take my mind of Jaxsyn.

On the drive to my parent’s house my palms were getting sweaty. “I can do this, I can do this,” I repeated in my head. As soon as we stepped foot into Memaw and Poppi’s house, Jaxsyn takes off. I hesitate for a minute and then decide to leave. I thought I was going to be sad and ruin date night, but the second I got back into the car I had the overwhelming sense of freedom and relief.

We went out and enjoyed four whole hours child-free and it was everything that I had expected. I wasn’t feeling guilty or nervous. I remembered what it was like to be with my husband and even though we both couldn’t stop talking about Jaxsyn. It was finally just the two of us talking.

When was the last time you had a date night? What did you do? Was it hard to let go of your parental duties for a few hours? Tell us about it!

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