It’s been almost a year that we’ve been in this pandemic and the one thing that I refuse to let it take from me is date night and family time. Nope, nada, not going to let COVID-19 take that away. And, I’m still going to do my part by wearing my mask and using my hand sanitizer.
For many of us, staying home is different and weird. We’re used to getting out of the house to do something. Maybe it’s to go to the gym or take a class, nonetheless, there is something that we’ve all been missing out on because of stay-at-home orders (I’m all for) and precautions to a virus that we know nothing about.
With that thought in mind, I’ve been very adamant that my relationship needs quality time. We’re parents now and most of our attention is on our son. It’s something I need to work on, although Chase doesn’t really care whereas, I do. If we’re not taking a trip or going out to dinner or to the movies, then we have to make it work in another way. Obviously, that way is at home. Not even going to lie, I love being at home. I’m a total homebody. Especially after all the moving and grooving around thatI did in college and a few years post-grad.
That’s why date nights at home work for me (and us). We’re pretty laid back and chill — Chase is definitely the social butterfly of the relationship while I like to take everything in rather than float around the room. Being home has been a challenge, more so because our son is always with us, but we make that work (bedtime and grandparents are a blessing).
Enough of my rambling.
Let’s talk about some date night ideas that you can do at home.
Cooking / Cook Off
If either of you like cooking or find cooking a challenge, it’s time to challenge each other. Chase is a magnificent cook, and I’m pretty good. I wouldn’t say I’m on his level because he’s precise while I will wing it when I need to. How fun would it be to set-up challenges once a month or maybe once depending on how it all goes? There are many food scenarios that you can come up with. Whether it’s cooking an entree for the opposite or baking desserts, there are so many things that you can do in your kitchen. And if a cook-off challenge isn’t for you, don’t fret, just cook dinner with each other. At the end of the day, it’s about spending time together and having these experiences in the house.
Game Night
I don’t know about y’all but game night is a staple in our home. More so, we do game nights with our friend group. But that includes teams, so why not taking to the one-on-one level? There are some games where it’s better to have multiple people, but simple games can really be fun when it’s just the two of you. I’m a fan of Taboo and Heads Up — I’m not sure how well we can pull it off with the two of us but I think there are ways to really mix it up and make a game your own. And, let’s not forget UNO and Phase 10. If you need a list of games, just let me know!
Paint & Sip Date Night
Now, I’ve always wanted to do a paint and sip, it’s just something that I’ve never got around to. And, who knows how long until I get to go to one? That’s why I think bringing it home can be a good idea. Honestly, you’re going to have to get creative with this one especially if you’re not the instructor or artist. I’m thinking YouTube might be a great source to help out. Can you imagine doing your own thing in your place? You just need to get some canvases and paint, your favorite bottle of whatever, and set things up in one of the rooms in your home. Make it nice and set the oasis with some music and candles. Go all out to make the experience amazing. Now, I need to convince Chase we need to do this.
Movie Date Night
If you’re big on going to the movies, like us then movie night should curb that theater craving (for now). There aren’t too many new movies floating across our screens, but that doesn’t mean we can’t rewatch old flicks or something that we’ve never seen before. I think the best method is to have a jar or box or whatever you want that you can throw movie titles in and whenever you have a movie night, someone picks one out of the jar. The element of surprise, right? I think it would be fun. Chase and I already watch whatever we see that might be interesting, so why not add a spin to it? Also, don’t forget to load up on your favorite candies — Five Below is my favorite place to stockpile Buncha Crunch and Whoppers.
Date night doesn’t have to involve going out and dressing up. It can be fun in your home with your jammies on. It’s all about how you do date night and the plans that you can come up with. For us, we’ve been big on chilling and enjoying different things for the time that we’re stuck at home.
It’s on us to make sure that we’re nurturing our relationship and spending time together. Sure, everyone is spending a lot more time than usual together. But, now it’s time to make that time matter.
What’s your stay-at-home date night go-to? Do you have stay-at-home date nights?
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