Recently, while my wife was attending an after-hours Holiday work function, I decided to ask my daughter if she would like to get out of the house and go on a date with Daddy. She said yes, of course. This would be an awfully short and fairly uninteresting blog post had her answer been anything but affirmative!
We decided, at my request, to drive the 40 minutes into center city Philadelphia. I knew that there was a band called The Evens playing a show that night and tickets were only $5. In addition to the low price, the venue was opening its doors for free to children under 12. I knew the space was non-smoking and that the music of The Evens would not be too loud for her little ears, even though it was an indoor show. The low volume was because the band consists of only two members and two instruments, in addition to their vocals: drums and electric guitar. I was particularly interested in taking my girl to see this band because their would be a woman behind the drums and since she is in love with playing “air drums” on her thighs at home and in the car, I figured it would be great to have her watch a female rocking the drum kit.
The show was terrific. Also terrific was the fancy Italian ice cream we ate together at a wonderful little artisan gelateria around the corner from the venue. The real treat though was being able to spend those 3 hours with her, with just her. It is far too rare an occurrence, for this writer and his daughter to get out and do something together – to go on a date, if you will. It is the kind of thing I wish could occur every single day.
It is vital to a healthy parent-child relationship that you have quality one on one time with your little one as they grow up. This alone time will assist you both in understanding each other, keeping the communication lines open and will provide for a lifetime of unique, shared memories that can never be duplicated or taken away from the two of you.
So, schedule a date with your kids today…and then schedule another and another. Do things that they love to do and then share with them something you are passionate about. Allow your kids to see you in your own element. They will enjoy catching a glimpse of their mom and/or dad having fun and will be thankful that you allowed them to be involved in that experience.
Read about another Father’s Date with his daughter