First of all what is ‘date night’? Before you got married every night was date night, right? Shouldn’t we always be living in a state of being in love and dating? Do we really need to call it and fix a date night?

These were my thoughts when I first heard the idea, since then and in reality since my 2 children have started demanding more and more of my wife and I’s life, the need has become a reality!

The problem is every night turns in to a blur of busyness, you have to spend some quality time with the kids whether that’s dinner or bedtime, (I’d highly recommend both!) You may have some work of some variety that needs to get done and then there is unwinding from the day on the job.

In this business and a state of tiredness that most of us in the 21^st century seem to live in it is rare to make any quality time with the most important person on this planet! Your wife!

So carving out a couple hours a week is massive, it will add the quality time and interest that your wife so craves, she will once again feel valued and even pursued, as you date her in a way you did when you were trying to win her.

On these nights my wife and I chat freely to one another we actually make each other laugh and we talk about our future and cast vision (which is my wife’s favourite aspect of the night)

Getting out of the house and getting dressed up, makes you both feel younger again, even sexier, which is a need guys! It is way too easy to get in a stale routine, which can slide towards boredom for both of you, the tragedy is that then men and even women look around at the singles and people a little younger than them and get envious of the ‘fun’ their having.

But if you make these nights fun and build the intimacy in to your marriage there will be no need to look over your shoulder, you will be happy and enjoying what God has given you!

I have to be honest and tell you we have not always done date night every week, blaming it on lack of money or baby sitters, but the truth is both are available when we prioritise it. Sadly we get to a point of tension sometimes were we both know we need a date night and so it has often been a monthly date in the past.

We are learning not to wait till it is vital to the enjoyment of our relationship, but to keep it going even when it doesn’t ‘seem’ like we need one. And because of it, we are learning so much more about one another.

Make the investment! Even if you have to start at home, box off a 2 hour window once a week where you make it special, whether that’s a candle lit dinner? A movie with snacks then a bath? Or our most recent one, curly fries followed by a tub of Carte Dor while playing ‘the game of life’ (above) on her mobile, it was a lot of fun and produced the intimacy both of us needed! (wink wink)

What can you do to make a night a week special?

What legacy can you start? Will you choose to see ‘date night’ as really important?

Simple ideas can work, it is the quality of intentional alone time that counts!

Start this week, and put a smile on both of your faces!