Ethan's & his team won their league championship! I have a champ in my house! |
If you haven’t done this before, you should. Kids are pure and brutally honest. Whenever they have space to express themselves they take full advantage. I started asking Ethan this question and got some feedback I wasn't expecting. Which lead me to start a weekly Tuesday date night with him. It’s one night of the week dedicated to us just spending time together. We will go to a kid friendly restaurant and have dinner with no phones, tablets and no distractions.
I once asked Ethan
how can I be a better mom and he told me “you’re always on the phone when you
pick me up from school and I don’t like it.” Something so minor to me was a big
deal for him and since getting this feedback I always make sure I’m
not on my phone when I pick him up. I’m trying to be the parent that I needed
growing up.
There’s nothing more important to me than my relationship
with Ethan. After all, he saved my life. (You can read post on him saving my
life here.) I’m fully vested in ensuring
he has all the support he needs from me to reach his full potential. I chose
Tuesday because it’s the one day of the week that our schedules aren’t as busy
after work and school. Since his team won their league championship this weekend, they now have a break until the winter session starts so Tuesday’s are set in stone for our dates.
During our weekly
dates I hope to create more of a space for Ethan to express himself. It’ll be a
time for us to talk and just hang out together. I’ll teach him how to pay the
tab, tip the waiter, learn more about his day and see what’s going on in his
world all while giving him my undivided attention. I want him to be comfortable
talking to me about anything and that starts now. Ethan and I are always
together but most times we are doing our own thing under the same roof. We can
be at home but in separate rooms- he’ll be playing Fornite and I’ll be in the
den checking emails, working, or blogging
Not only am I looking forward to Tuesday’s; Ethan is too.
Sunday, as we got ready for his game, he told me he’s looking forward to
Tuesday. When I asked why he said because we get to hangout! So as you can
imagine I’m super pumped for dinner tonight.
I’m hoping this weekly date night helps us strengthen our
bond and grow together. There is a lot you can learn from your kids, you just
have to be willing to listen to them. I’ve listed some of our favorite kid
friendly/budget friendly restaurants below. These weekly dates don’t have to
cost a fortune. There are so many restaurants with awesome deals such as kids
eat free nights and discounted kid meals.
As the years pass I think I have this motherhood thing
figured out but little do I know its just getting started. I frequently receive
compliments on how mature Ethan is, how cool our relationship is and how I seem
to have mastered motherhood. All these things have come with time and have
taken patience and creating my own unique approach to parenting. Tuesday has
now become my favorite day of the week!
Restaurants with budget friendly/kid friendly menus
Applebee’s
Steak ’n Shake
Texas Roadhouse
The Green Turtle
California Tortilla
Buffalo Wild Wings
Famous Daves
Firehouse Subs
Moe’s
Fuddruckers
Rise Pies
Pizza Hut
TGI Friday’s
IHOP
Steak ’n Shake
Texas Roadhouse
The Green Turtle
California Tortilla
Buffalo Wild Wings
Famous Daves
Firehouse Subs
Moe’s
Fuddruckers
Rise Pies
Pizza Hut
TGI Friday’s
IHOP
You are so bomb Mel! Love that you and Ethan are so tight and that you allow him to express himself. I hope to be as awesome of a mom one day!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteYou are so bomb Mel! Love that you and Ethan are so tight and that you allow him to express himself. I hope to be as awesome of a mom one day!
ReplyDeleteI could just shed a tear girl! You are a great mother and have good inspiration for other mother’s. I will be reading your blogs every week.
ReplyDeletehowdddy
ReplyDeleteOk cool! I like it! Keep it going! Sounds like you're a great mom.
ReplyDelete