Date 29

  Let's not beat around the bush.  I will miss the dating prompts.  I have surprised myself with a few.  Not because they were outside the box or even who they were with but the fact that it is about what you make it.  With a little extra work, some time set aside; a date can happen at anytime, anywhere and of course with anyone.

  I like the fact that there doesn't have to be stress.  It helps to label the occurrence  a "date" rather than just a dinner.  It makes it more special but, you don't have to prepare for it weeks ahead or stop the flow of everyday life.  You can do what works for you and make it special time anywhere.

  Today's date is another day for you!  No running away today. Today you are staying home and finding time!  Today stay up later or get up earlier to find yourself some valuable quiet time.  I do set my clock earlier than my kids and although it hurts in the morning staying up later is nice when its undisturbed too.

  Today read a book, finish magazine, paint your nails, style your hair.  Take some time for you!  You could take this date if nothing else and practice it everyday but then it's almost not a date.  If it becomes habit then it's a chore or routine.  So for this one the point is to make it extra special for yourself!  Whatever it is that you never find time for; find time for it and do it.  You always manage to squeeze in a load of laundry so now your just squeezing in time for you. 6:00 Tuesday morning you have a date with ________ doing __________.

Have fun everyone!

Date 28

  Well this challenge of a month of dating ends tomorrow.  So for the last two days I have decided to make it about you.  One single person dating theirself.  I'm not forcing you to the movies or even to eat alone.  That is a huge hurdle for some.  I personally have gone our by myself but it's not my first go to activity.  I have even gone to the movies by myself atleast once.  I was even going to actually go again last week but didn't quite make it.  So probably this week coming up.  Sometimes you want to do something and noone else does so why not just go by yourself?

  Today is all about you!  Go away for a couple hours but, no grocery shopping, or errands, or anything related to the house!  Take a ride or maybe a walk and enjoy yourself.  Take a few deep breathes of air and reflect on who you are.  Take the day to enjoy something for you.  Go where you want to go.  Can you get away during nap time?  Can you go away before bedtime.  Squeeze in a few hours.  Take a walk, go to the mall and walk around.  No stress for two hours.  To me that is a nice date. The peace and quiet of few moments.

  Enjoy your day and have fun.  I am going to write and save this date as it would be nice to make time for myself.  I never do and maybe one day a month for just me would be nice.  I'm going to pencil a date with myself every month.  Movie, dinner, eyebrows waxed, lol the sky is the limit!

Date 26

  Only a few days left.  The end is near.  It's kind of bittersweet, don't you think?  We don't need an excuse to hang out with our kids.  We don't need an excuse for a date.  All we need to do is set time aside for it to happen.  That is the hardest part!

  Let's finish dating out strong! Two more days with the kid(s) and then 2 days after that and this show is over.  Today is a walk. You know like you started out doing the first half of the week.  Today is about a scavenger/treasure hunt! So you need to plan this one out! Go to the area and scope it out.  Where will they start and end? Take a left 3 paces from a green fern.  Will "x" mark the spot?  What is the treasure?  I could have chosen a dress up day but to be gender fair;I skipped that. So today everyone is a pirate!

  Have fun! No one is walking off the plank!

Date 25

  Ok, ok no running around today!  It's actually Thanksgiving here!  So take it easy.  The movie theaters are open here and although I didn't plan my dates out today's date can still happen.

  Yesterday, The Good Dinosaur came out and we will be going to check that out!  I'm excited as after 3 girls I can appreciate a boy movie where there isn't a princess!  I may be all princesses out!

  Have a great day and even if you don't get out to the movies may be you can get a Redbox movie. Pop some popcorn, let the child or children pick out a movie and get ready to enjoy their world!

  Have a great time! Happy Thanksgiving!

Date 23

  I hope this week is proving itself fun.  I hope you are enjoying your undivided time with your child.  Sadly, I need an excuse to stop what I am doing to give one on one attention to my kids.  Everyone is always going in so many different directions that it just becomes second nature to entertain or neglect kids.  But to stop and give undivided attention to just one takes effort.  I need an all hands on deck plan in effect to help. Older ones or dad has to step in so that I can hang out with one child over another.

  So today take your child out and provide them with  some  culture or not.  Today your date is to take them to the museum.  This weekend my youngest daughter and I spent some time at the local art museum.  She asked to stay and look around after we dropped her sisters off. I said sure why not.

  We actually spent the whole day out and about and she really liked it.  The art museum at a childs pace (with a boot) does require patience but as long as she enjoyed herself who cares if she doesn't know who made what.  We discussed different types of art.  I asked if she could make me a bowl with her playdough?  I asked if she could paint the face of a person?  If she could make an abstract picture.  Her little wheels were just turning.  I know she is plotting her future art debate.

  You don't need to go to an art museum.  We have a children's museum as well as even the botanic gardens.  So choose a place they would like to explore. A place you can walk at a comfortable pace and learn and communicate about.

  Have fun!  That's all that matters.  I'm sure your child will just love to experience something new.

Date 18

  Today is another date hanging out with your friend.  Another date chatting about dinner last night.  Maybe it's a different friend today.  Maybe you are fortunate to select a different friend each day!

  Today your date is walking.  You can go back to the mall if you like.  It may be warmer there depending where you live.  Otherwise take a walk around the neighborhood.  This date doesn't have to end after the walk.  By all means I started it go ahead and enjoy yourself.  Stay out a little longer.

  Have fun! Burn some calories!  Enjoy the fresh air wherever you are!  Feel free to post a picture of your scenic trip around the neighborhood.  Our color changing leaves are almost gone.  It went by so quick.

Date 2

  So this month we are making special dates.  Unconventional dates.  Dates with our spouse or children.  Dates with friends or finding some time by yourself.

  Dates that can happen anytime.  No need to wait till 7pm.  They can happen during a sunrise or at noon.  No need to wait till Friday.  There is no time like the present to make it special.

  You don't even need to break the bank on a date.  Breaking the bank won't be fun when you get the bill.  How about you make a few special cheap or free dates.  It's a about quality not quantity.

  Today the date is 

Family night!

  Play a game with the family, a game of Monopoly or Uno.  Maybe for yourself it's solitaire.  I used to love playing Diner Dash (maybe I will dig that out and find time for that too).   Family is your call; with or without children, spouse or not.  This could be about finding time for yourself and play too.

  So today it's about playing!   Who will you play games with?  What will you do?

  Feel free to post pictures of your day 2 date! If you take a picture everyday at the end you'll have 30 days of dates to reflect on!