Now that the kids are both out on their own and the emotional trauma of them both leaving within two weeks of each other is subsiding (slooooowly subsiding), we are getting back to doing the things we did before the kids came along. Well…mostly.
After long difficult days, we find ourselves watching TV and snacking – and neither is a good long term solution.
I’ve jotted down a few things that you can do together as a family or with just your spouse. Either way, it doesn’t involve watching the TV.
Put down the remote and put away the popcorn and slooooowly step away from the Reese’s cups and have fun.
Here are a few things that the Mr. and I like to do together:
- Walking Trails – We love Crowder’s Mountain
- Sitting under the stars and chatting
- Visit a bookstore/coffee shop
- Day trip to explore our area or towns close by
- Driving Range – smacking a golf ball with all of your might is great therapy. Just sayin
- Spend a day at an amusement park
- Go to a fancy schmancy dinner somewhere – LOVE getting all dolled up
- Go to local restaurants you’ve never tried. We love doing this! We often find ourselves wondering why we haven’t tried the restaurant before.
- Pinterest Projects – we’ve done a few. I’ve done a few. Will share here so you can decide with me if it’s a win or fail.
- Make homemade pizza or Stromboli
- Paint a room
- Walk in the rain
- Shooting Range
- Have photos printed out and put together an album
- Volunteer together
- Spend the night/weekend in a cabin or other unusual place
- Card Games
- Board Games
- Visit your state’s capitol and museums
- Make homemade ice cream
- Go to a baseball game or other sporting event
- Go fishing
- Trace your family tree
- Cook together and try one brand new recipe a week
These are just a few things that we’ve done and love to do.
What do you like to do together? Do you have an article about date nights or empty nesting? If so, I’d love for you to leave the link below in the comment section so that our readers can easily connect to you and be encouraged.
If you have children at home, do you still have Date Night? If not, you should. A weekly or bi-weekly date night is very important. It doesn’t have to cost a thing, it just needs to happen.
Here are some links to some ideas I’ve gathered from Pinterest:
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We are two moms, with two families and five kids. We are taking our youngest two to college in August and will become full-fledged empty nesters. We started our blog, Grown and Flown, when our kids were juniors as we knew what was on the horizon. Meeting others, like you, who have been through it before has been a way we have made new friends and learned from those who have adapted to the quiet of an empty house. Thanks for your creative ideas! Mary Dell and Lisa
Grown and Flown recently posted..Twelve Hours and Counting: Diary of a Dreaded Graduation
Thank you for stopping by! I was hoping that your link would be in the comments as you have some awesome resources for the Empty nester – thank you. i’m going to include it here! http://www.grownandflown.com/
Thanks again!