Even though we can’t go out on the town, we still need a date night. While parenting during this pandemic, we’ve taken a lot of time to focus on making sure the kids are alright. We have regular check-ins regarding what and how they’re feeling about what’s happening in the world. We make sure they’re on task with their school work and that their needs are being met but, we don’t always do the same for our partners. Now more than ever, it’s critical that we take time to reconnect and remember why we liked each other in the first place. Below you’ll find a few suggestions on how to create a fun date night at home!
Wine Tour for Two
There’s nothing better than driving out to local wineries and spending the day tasting new wines and snacking on delicious cheese platters. Even though you can’t currently hit up local tasting rooms in person, you can certainly turn your kitchen into a tasting room of your own. Be sure to grab some nice cheese selections from your local grocer and some of your favorite wine and get ready to set up shop in the kitchen. Some local shops such as Portland Wine Company will even deliver the wine to your doorstep. The best news is, you don’t have to worry about finding a designated driver for this tour!
Couples Cooking Class
I’ll be honest, most of our date nights consist of the good old fashioned dinner and drinks at a local restaurant (I really like the Sapphire Hotel. The Summer of George is one of my favorite cocktails ever). With four kids at home, having an adult conversation without interruption is darn near impossible. So, most of the time, we like to just unwind and have a nice chat. However, we’ve always talked about attending a couples cooking class. I’d looked into them in the past but just never got around to signing up for one. Now that we’re on lockdown, I’ve been looking for ways to jazz things up. I found a great site for online cooking classes. They are a fraction of the price compared to the in person classes and they would help us break up the routine we’ve found ourselves settling into while at home. You can select a dish or dessert that draws your interest and away you go! Here you can find a plethora of virtual cooking classes to try out.
Virtual Learning Anyone?
Okay, so I definitely have a love/hate relationship with YouTube. I can’t stand the fact that my children would prefer to watch snippets of super annoying videos on this site as opposed to living their lives. However, I love the fact that you can teach yourself just about anything using a good how to video. That being said, why not take a night to learn something new together? My husband and I love to dance! We aren’t great at it and my kids would tell you that we’re super embarrassing. So, we’re going to take a night to look up some dance tutorials and get ready to tear up the dancefloor at the next wedding/event we attend (who knows when that will be). I’m excited because I don’t have to go through the awkwardness of learning a new skill in front of a bunch of strangers. If dancing doesn’t tickle your fancy then try origami or yoga. Just be open to learning something new together.
Angela lives in SE Portland with her husband, four kids and their dog. She views parenting as one of the most challenging yet rewarding parts of her life. Her kids range in age from six to fourteen and each one shines in their own unique way. She enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as staying active! She likes attending local events and exploring the culinary scene in Portland. She’s a self proclaimed foodie who admittedly needs help mastering proteins but claims to make a mean chocolate chip cookie. Some of her favorite activities include spending time in nature, playing soccer, reading, camping, hiking and just hanging with the fam! She sees each day as an opportunity to start fresh and learn something new.