As I think back on the childhood days of my four adult children, one of the experiences that I cherish most is the time of Mommy and Daddy dates at Christmas. Every year during the month of December my wife and I would each establish an evening for a date with each of our children. My wife Janie would take each of our four children out on a date and I would also take each out for a separate time on a date.
Each date involved:
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Having dinner with one child and one parent only…a special “me” time for each kid.
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Each child getting to pick where we had dinner.
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Each child getting an envelope with money for the purpose of buying the parent not on the date a Christmas gift and also a gift for one or two of his brothers and sisters.
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A very “low budget.” Gifts were not to be over a certain amount (each could spend no more than the individual allowance in the envelope) and restaurants chosen were mostly close and not very expensive.
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Helping the child wrap purchased gifts and placing them under the tree once we arrived back at home.
I can still remember the glisten in their eyes as they got their “date” placed on the family calendar. Each child felt like he “owned” the evening and could talk to Mommy and Daddy about anything…much more than what should we buy them for Christmas.
Many days I long to go back to these simple, rewarding days just before the holidays. What treasures!
