What REALLY Happens on a Parents Night Out
Inside: What really happens on a parents night out.
This past weekend the unthinkable happened…
My husband and I had a night to ourselves without kids.
The surprising part is that it wasn’t planned for a special occasion. It just worked out that way with both girls spending the night with family.
I’d heard parents say things like “I don’t even like it when my kids leave. I just miss them too much when they’re not around” and I’m all like, are they crazy?!?!
And then there are the parents who share photos of their “wild” nights without kids. Back at the club like they’re in college, drinks in hand. Whoo!! (I’m thinking, man, I don’t know if I have the energy for all that, kids or not!)
So here’s the honest truth about what really happens on a night without kids…
Parents Night Out — A Timeline
5:00pm
So here we are — it’s 5pm and the house is quiet.
Really, really quiet.
Alarm bells are going off in my mom brain, telling me: “It’s too quiet. They’re up to something. You better go look around the house because there is a big mess waiting for you somewhere!”
And then I have to remind myself that it is actually ok. It’s supposed to be quiet.
5:30pm
I head off to yoga class, with my husband’s full blessing. “Go! You know you want to and you’ll be glad you did!”
I think he wants an hour to himself to play video games.
6:30pm
Return home from yoga.
I’m usually met at the door with shrieks of excitement like I’ve been gone for a week.
Not today. Silence.
Hmm… I kinda miss the celebrity reception!
8:00pm
Arrive at our favorite sushi restaurant. Yea, that’s right…we’re going out for a late dinner. Because we can. And because reverse happy hour sushi prices.
Actual dinner conversation:
Sushi chef bangs gong and announces “last call for everything!” (Yep, we’re closing this place down!!)
A group of girls at the table next to us complains amongst themselves, “You mean we can’t get anymore drinks?”
Husband: “It’s like they want people to go to a bar instead.”
Me: “Why would anyone want to go sit at a bar when they could just go sit at home?!”
Husband: …
Me: …
Husband: (shakes head)
Me: Yea, I just said that. I feel old.
Husband: You are.
We discuss going to a movie after dinner, but decide to go home an rent one on demand instead. Because obviously I like sitting at home. No point in hiding it now.
11:00pm
Selecting a movie takes almost as much time as watching an actual movie.
I think my husband and I both want to watch the same movie. I’m not sure why we don’t just say that they first time around.
11:30pm
Husband: We can pause the movie and finish it tomorrow.
Me: I’m not asleep!
11:45pm
Husband: Let’s just finish the movie tomorrow.
Me: I just need to walk around for a minute. I’ll go to the bathroom real quick and then I’ll get a drink of water and then I’ll be wide awake!
11:55pm
Husband: I’m going to turn it off.
Me: zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
9:30am
Awake.
I glance at my phone and see it’s still morning. I finally have the opportunity to sleep as late as my heart desires, and my body wakes me up anyways. On the bright side, 9:30am is pretty late in a house with kids.
I decide to get a little work done while I still have a few hours of quiet left. And anyways, I’m looking forward to the girls’ return.
Quiet is blissful. But it’s also unsettling as a parent.
I’ve accepted that the next 16 years of my life are going to be noisy. And I kind of like it.
Did your big “parents night out” turn out the way you planned? Share your story the comments below!
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