My wife and I had a spontaneous date day yesterday, and honestly—it was exactly what we needed.
We don’t get to go on dates often. Between work, chronic pain (I have lupus and fibromyalgia, and she’s lived with arthritis since she was born), parenting five kids, and the never-ending list of responsibilities, date nights usually get pushed to the bottom of the list. Sometimes we’re too tired. Sometimes the kids need us. Sometimes we simply can’t afford it.
But we’ve learned to get creative. When going out isn’t an option, we’ll rent a movie, order dinner, and camp out in our bedroom. A while back, we even built a canopy for our bed—something we both dreamed of as kids. Spoiler: it’s not overrated. If you’ve ever thought about getting one, do it. Add some lights, and suddenly you’ve got a magical little theater right in your room.
Still, as cozy as that is, sometimes you just need to get out. Away from the kids. Away from the mess. Away from the constant reminder of everything that needs to be done.
The Day We Didn’t Clock In
Yesterday morning, sitting in the car before work, we both had this heavy, paralyzing feeling. You know the one—the kind that whispers, “If you go in today, you’ll regret it.”
We both live with anxiety, but I’ve learned to tell the difference between anxiety and intuition. And this? This felt like intuition.
Twenty minutes past clock-in time, we were still sitting there, staring at the building, trying to convince ourselves to move. Finally, we looked at each other and decided: Nope. Not today.
Cameras, Parks, and Unexpected Magic
We could have gone home and tackled the mountain of responsibilities waiting for us—the messy house, neglected blogs, unfinished manuscripts, car inspection, assignments, lawn mowing… the list goes on.
Instead, we grabbed our cameras and headed to a local park a coworker had recommended. For a couple of hours, we wandered around snapping pictures of trees, water, shadows, and each other. It was simple, but it was fun.
On the way out, we noticed a little offshoot road leading under a massive bridge and boat dock. Curiosity won, and we drove down.
At first glance, it was nothing special—just a parking lot under an overpass, with potholes and scattered trash. But then we noticed the butterflies. The vines climbing the concrete pillars. The birds singing over the glistening water. The breeze that seemed to flow right through us and our cameras.
It was raw, imperfect, and strangely intimate. That hidden little spot under the bridge ended up being my favorite part of the day.
Olive Garden, Books, and Custard
Of course, the day didn’t end there. We went home briefly, but the chaos of kids and chores reminded us we weren’t ready to call it quits. So we headed back out—dinner at Olive Garden, a couple of hours browsing Barnes & Noble, and, because no date is complete without dessert, frozen custard on the way home.
Why It Mattered
I don’t know if our intuition was warning us about work or nudging us toward each other, but I’m glad we listened.
Responsibilities are important. Vital, even. But so is self-care. So is partnership. So is choosing each other in the middle of the chaos.
And here’s the thing: date nights don’t have to be expensive or fancy. Sometimes all you need is a camera, a canopy bed, or even a bridge under an overpass.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about where you go. It’s about who you’re with.
So tell me, what’s the most unexpectedly magical date you’ve ever had?
