For many parents, date night isn’t an option. It’s expensive to go out—both for the activity and the babysitter. But that doesn’t mean you and your partner aren’t deserving of a dedicated date night. It just takes a bit of creativity. Here are 12 date night ideas you can do at home:
1. Make your own 100th-day trail mix. When I taught elementary school, the 100th day of school was a big deal. My older students and I celebrated by making a 100th-day trail mix. We used pretzels, Cheerios, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, raisins, to name a few. But you can also include banana chips, peanuts, white chocolate chips, etc. You and your spouse count out 100 of each item, place them into a large bowl, and then mix before serving. Remember to celebrate your own 100th day. 100 days until Christmas or 100 days until your anniversary or 100 days as parents.
2. Treat it like a real date. You’re at home and tempted just to be comfortable. Get dressed as if you were going out—outfit, shoes, the works. Set the table with a tablecloth, linen napkins, candles, and flowers. Put music on. And remember—you don’t have to cook. Whether it’s take-out or a frozen lasagna you warmed up, use your good dishes. Bask in the meal, the quiet, each other.
3. Celebrate an anniversary. And not just your wedding anniversary. On our family calendar, I keep track of the date we moved into our home, the dates we bought our cars, the day my husband stopped smoking. We celebrate our first date anniversary. Think of all your “firsts” as anniversaries to celebrate—with cake and something bubbly.
4. Bring the concert to you. My husband and I once saw Sade perform at the Hollywood Bowl. About 20 years later, we still talk about that concert. Put on a CD or create a playlist and bring the concert to you. Spread a blanket on the floor and have an indoor picnic, as if you were attending an outdoor concert. Sit back, sip, snack, and savor—the food, the music, each other. (You can use this idea to re-create a concert you once saw or a concert you would have liked to see.)
5. Be nostalgic. And purposeful in your viewing. We all sometimes need to just sit and watch TV. Watching-time is prime cuddle-time. Use it wisely. Think back to a movie or television show that was popular when the two of you were dating. For my husband and I, our first date was in early 1997 but Jerry Maguire (from 1996) was still popular. Who can forget these iconic lines—“You complete me” and “You had me at hello.” (Of course, “Show me the money,” was popular too, just not as romantic.) Watch the movie or television series that has special meaning for the two of you.
6. Think a.m. My husband and I sneak in dates whenever we can. Sometimes it means a special breakfast after our son is at school and my husband has a late shift at work. Breakfast dates count as dates. Think pastries, croissants, specialty coffee drinks. It’s a great way to start the day!
7. Get sentimental. Take out your wedding album. Watch your wedding video. Go through old photo albums. (We still have photo albums but making a slideshow on the computer works too.) Bonus points if you can re-create a food or drink from the time. Is it possible to get a small version of your wedding cake, for example? And/or toast each other with your “Bride” and “Groom” champagne flutes?
8. Have an indoor campout. Take a cue from the kids and build a fort. Include lots of comfy cozy blankets and pillows. Take out the twinkly Christmas lights and use them to provide some “mood lighting.” Make indoor s’mores. Snuggle up.
9. Bring the exotic location to you. Our dream honeymoon was Paris, but financially a trip there wasn’t possible until six years after we were married. But that didn’t stop my husband and me from trying to make crepes a few times, without success. Play some music from the locale of your choice and eat the food you would have there (whether you cook it yourself or get it to-go from a favorite take-out spot). Check your local party supply store for decoration ideas. Our crepes may have been inedible, but my husband and I still laugh about the experience. (And when we finally did travel to Paris, it made those crepes taste even sweeter!)
10. Borrow from your early date ideas. Think back to your early dates. What did you both enjoy doing that you haven’t done in a while? Play miniature golf? Visit an art museum? Have an epic video game battle? Can you recreate it at home? Set up your own indoor mini-miniature golf obstacle course. Enjoy a virtual tour of an art museum from the comfort of home. Plug in the Nintendo and have fun with Mario and Luigi—just like in the “old days.”
11. Give each other a massage. You can get as fancy and/or technical as you want. You can look up pressure points and proper techniques. You can research different oils and lotions. Or you can simply spend some time massaging each other and focusing on one another. And don’t limit yourselves to massage. My husband loves to have his back gently scratched. I love to have my hair brushed. Find what feels best for the two of you.
12. Start a long-term project. To guarantee that you will continue this tradition of date nights at home, begin a long-term project. Something that requires a time commitment and won’t be finished in one night. A jigsaw puzzle? Organizing photos? Even a chore like sorting through receipts before tax time is more fun with something special to eat and drink, some good music on in the background, and each other’s company.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to count as a date. The most important aspects of a stay-at-home date are the two of you, some creativity, and some effort to break out of the usual routine.
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