We're a working class couple with two kids and a third every other weekend. We've tried to have date night before but due to lack of money, lack of baby-sitters and being just plain lazy, it always disintegrated into watching X-Files re-runs and going to bed early. We tried looking online for ideas but either came up blank or found the same tired cliches (how many Italian meals do these web sites think we can eat?). So here we are; tired, lonely, bored and frustrated. First step, re-committing to setting aside a few hours on a designated night just for ourselves. Second step, find something to do together, with a few rules thrown in. Third step, remember that this is not just about something to do, it's a gift of time to our partner. We thought we'd track what works for us, what doesn't work for us and share what we learn about being parents, having jobs, having no money and still finding time for each-other. After all, we got married because we're madly in love and like being together.



Reading

Ever read with your partner for fun?  
Sound boring?  
Try it.


Make something warm to drink - a little tea or cocoa, maybe.  Pack the sofa with pillows and blankets.  Get comfy.    


She asked him to choose from a selection of three books of short stories by authors they both like. He chose Neil Gaiman's "Fragile Things".  
We cuddled up on the sofa and took turns reading a few pages at a time.  Sharing a story from a book is much more intimate than watching a movie together.  Your attention is exchanged with each other rather than the screen.  


Our advice is to cover about 25 pages total.  Reading anything longer than that on a Friday night after a long work week is too much.   You're going to get tongue tied and someone's going to fall asleep. (him)  You could choose a short story, an article, poetry, or even a novel to read together over several weeks.  She thinks a comic book might be funny to try together.  Just make sure it's something you're both interested in flipping through.       


This was a successful Date Night.  It worked within our rules and budget and definitely brought us closer together for the evening. We plan to start reading together on a regular basis.  
     
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