One of our big goals for 2025 was simple on paper but felt ambitious in practice: have a date every single week.

At the time, our youngest son wasn’t sleeping well. Nights were unpredictable, mornings were chaotic, and we couldn’t count on any consistent windows of time to connect without interruptions. We realized if we didn’t carve out intentional space for each other, it just wasn’t going to happen.

So we committed: one date every week.

Not necessarily going out every week—because let’s be real, there are limits: budget, sick kids, exhaustion. But we committed to setting aside protected time to connect, even if it was just on the couch with takeout.

We started by asking a trusted neighbor with older boys for babysitter recommendations, and she came through with gold. From there, we kept asking around—friends, church, school parents—until we had a small but reliable rotation. That way, if one sitter was busy, we had backups. Babysitter availability wasn’t going to be our excuse.

And yes, going out does cost money, but we made a point to rework our budget and prioritize date night funds. That meant cutting in other areas to make room for babysitters and an occasional meal out. One of our couple friends got creative by trading car repair help with a babysitter in exchange for a few nights out. Genius.

Two things surprised us most about this weekly rhythm:

1. It gave us space to talk—without tension.
The goal of date night wasn’t to tackle hard conversations or work through conflict, but… that often happened naturally. In the calm and quiet, without kids interrupting or a task list looming, things came up that needed to be said, and they came out with more kindness and less defensiveness.
What might have sparked tension on a stressful Tuesday at home turned into a thoughtful conversation over tacos. It was like we remembered we were on the same team.

2. It reminded us we’re best friends first.
Being honest, Daniel and I are opposites. Communication takes work. Parenting together is beautiful, but also draining. It’s easy to fall into co-parenting or roommate mode, where you're coordinating logistics but not connecting.
Date nights pulled us out of survival mode and reminded us: this whole family started with the two of us. It’s worth investing in us.
Even on nights when we didn’t really feel like going—we were tired, grumpy, or just not in sync—we showed up. And every single time, we left feeling glad we did.

Whether your marriage is thriving or needs some repair work, weekly date nights are one of the most life-giving tools we can recommend. They’ve been a game-changer for us, not because every date is magical, but because the habit of connection is powerful.

Next week, I’ll be sharing some of our favorite at home and out on the town date ideas. But for now, I’ll leave you with this: Date nights aren’t a luxury. They’re a lifeline. And you deserve that connection!

Have a creative way you’ve made date nights work? Reply to this email and tell us! We’d love to hear your ideas and maybe even share a few in the next issue.