I have been looking for a way to get out of the house once in a while and a chance to spend one-on-one time with my kids. A family at church gave me a great idea. The dad takes one child on a date each week. Now I know this is typically a daddy thing, but actually it seems that Jason gets more fun time with the kids than I do. He comes home from work and plays with them, whereas I feel as if I am just making them work all day. So I’m hoping to be able to take each child out individually for some one-on-one time once a week.
I began with Faith, my eldest daughter. I took her to Starbucks, where she was thrilled to get a chocolate chip cookie frozen drink with whipped cream. She had always wanted to try one. We sat down and talked about whatever came to mind. This was probably more special for me than it was for her! It is so neat to just be able to talk to my daughter without the competition of the rest of the family. She is by nature a quiet girl. She talked to me more in this hour than she had all week! Then we window shopped at a store and came home.
I would love to hear any ideas for simple, inexpensive outings you may have!
I’m linked to Simple Pleasures and Making My Home Sing Monday.
I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’m sure it meant a great deal to her, as it will with the rest of the kids.
I don’t have scheduled one on one time (which I probably should 🙂 but when I run errands, I typically let one child go with me. It’s usually just into a store or two or in to pick up pizza or something. They rotate who gets to go and it makes their day. They have a tendency to get a little treat or something when they are alone with me too, making them feel all the more special. They get very ‘chatty’ when it’s just me and them or them and their dad. Simple and easy, but a good connection for them all the same.
She’ll tuck this away in her heart. If it wasn’t as special to her now as it was to you, someday she’ll remember it. And, when she does it’ll be special to her.
I think this is a wonderful idea both for mommy and kids.
every once in a while i will take either child with me to the dollar tree and let them pick out whatever they want… its fun to go through the toys and color books till they find that “special treat” that makes them happy…. and only costs me $1!! 🙂 sometimes we will go to target on errands and i will buy them a popcorn and lemonade and sit and talk about silly things and tell jokes. 🙂
such a lovely idea.cant wait to hear about your next date! x
I used to enjoy having a Happy Meal with my kids.
Maybe let them choose a movie to rent for a family movie night when you get home?
Sometimes it is not what you are doing but the fact that only one child is involved. The other day I stopped in to the Thrift store with my 17 year old daughter. I was looking for a book to read. We stumbled on a rack of prom gowns. She tried several on for the fun of it. She found a perfect one for $5. Mind you prom is not until spring and there may be a better find somewhere else. The point is we had fun.
My sons always find lunch with Mom is good. Sometime it is at the house and others out somewhere of their choosing. Other times it has been teaching dear old Mom how to use some new software.
Just remember that it is all about the one on one time.
When our kids were little, each had one special evening per week. After the others had all gone to bed, that child stayed up with mom and dad for special one on one time. They looked forward to their evening every week. When they got older, I read all the same books as as they did. Then we would talk and talk in the kitchen in the evenings, eating treats. I would also go running with my daughter every morning. We would run, then walk and talk. It was the best of times!
That’s fantastic! We do the same thing with our girls 🙂 I try to go with their interests and ask what they would like to do. We’ve gone to the park, to get ice cream, to window shop at the toy store, etc. I think they are game to do anything, as long as each of them have my undivided attention!
Here’s my impromptu brainstorm for inexpensive outings: going to a nearby lake and walking on the pier (maybe skipping rocks), hiking in a wilderness area, taking some art supplies to a local arboretum to watercolor whatever you see, swinging on some swings, going to a free community event like Irish dancing (might be special with just one kid with you), having a chocolate malt at a 50’s diner, dessert like pie at a restaurant, going to a field to watch the sunset, doing whatever your kid likes to do (like catching insects or going rock climbing with them).
My oldest child loved Costco (still does at 22 and we just went there last week, lol!) so we would go there for lunch (or just grab a pop and eat off the carts, haha) and look at the books, movies, clothes (well, I would look at the clothes, lol! He does a lot of talking over the lunch and lets me know what’s going on at college, etc. (he goes to school out of state so when he comes home we go to Costco!).
My youngest and I go to the pawn shop or the thrift store together. He’s a homebody and doesn’t like going shopping much, but I used to buy him a little something at either store (and still do sometimes, even though he has his own money now, lol!).
We would go on outings to the library, or down by the water, or just get a pop at the drive-thru and go for a drive somewhere. Thanks for linking up to Making Your Home Sing Monday!
Your a smart lady…..cause those one on one times are so important.
Looks like she was having a very fun time, and I doubt that you were
the only one it was special too. Kids spell Love – T I M E, for sure!
What a wonderful simple pleasure to spend time with each of your children,
my children are all grown up, but it is still such a thrill any time I get
one on one time with them, but I love any time we can have with them and
their spouses, or spouse to be! Cause we consider them our kids too!
Blessings, Nellie
I can’t agree more. Spending special times with our kiddos is so important.
What a great idea, I’m sure your children will treasure these times as mmuch as you do. A lovely simple pleasure.
What a great idea for one on one family time ….moments shared are a treasure
Oh my gosh.. I LOVE this idea! My girls are 3 and 4 and they always love going by themselves with me or my Husband. I am definitely going to make it a point to plan some “dates” for them. 🙂 Maybe going to the dollar tree and buying something they want, going out for ice cream, a movie, going to get their nails (or toes) painted, etc.. Sounds like it will be good for them AND me! Thanks for sharing!