Date Night Required

Life moves too fast. This morning I read and reposted an article with 10 tips to becoming a happier person that was apparently from The Pope and I found myself cheering on every single tip.

I constantly remind myself to simplify. Everything piles up: dishes, laundry, work, junk, paperwork, toys and more stuff!

There's only so much that we really need and only so much we can do physically and mentally. Tim and I have always lived by the idea that you work hard so that you can play hard, but sometimes the working hard gets in the way of remembering to take time out to play.

Date nights, late night runs, sneaking time in for a nap or a few minutes of stillness -of calm- is crucial to that continuation of happy tips in my book. As parents a Mom, I know that my happiness comes from the happiness of my family and that typically my "needs" might be last on the checklist, because really that's just part of the job requirements. (Tim, or any other Dads that might be reading this, I'm not saying that you don't find happiness from our happiness or that yours might not come last either. I'm just saying that Mothers tend to be martyr's - I know of at least three in my life: my Mother, Grandmother and Mother-in-law.) But, and that's a big but, what's that saying:

"If Mama isn't happy, ain't nobody happy"?

Let's just say a date night, a wedding, a dance floor with good music, a glass of wine, my handsome dance partner and some good hair can make this Mama pretty happy. 

Sunsets and sparklers? That's just icing on the happy cake!

Luckily, we're extremely blessed with family that loves to hang with our boys and a couple of great sitter-options if family is busy.  There's a lot to say for a night of adult conversation, or no conversation at all and just pure silence.  I'm sure someday I'll be able to sleep past their usual morning wake up call and not check their rooms before I go to sleep.  Or will I? 

Either way... here's a bit of advice: whether the option of a date is a wedding, a trip to the grocery store or just a quick run around the block -- take it.  Seriously, even if you don't have kids -- take it! 

Date night required.  This includes dates with yourself!