Parent's Night Out - Good for Everyone

I don’t know why I sometimes feel guilty leaving the house on a weeknight to do something fun.  In fact, I think it’s good to leave the house for a few hours and let the kids figure out their own stuff without you.  You know, wash their jersey for the soccer game, take out the trash, etc. And it’s ok for things to be a little wheels off - it’s a great way to learn.

For starters, it’s good for them to see you taking care of yourself by doing something fun.  After all, isn’t that what you want them to do for themselves when they leave the nest?  More importantly, they need to learn how to be resourceful when you’re not around - Problem Solving 101.

Before I leave the house, I ask the kids what their plan is.  Now that we have older kids, the answer is usually “homework” or “talk to so-and-so about a project.”  When they were tweens, however, this question was more important.  I would ask them to briefly walk me through their plan for the night.  My point in this was for them to think about their night - take some ownership - and come up with a few things they were going to do OTHER than watch TV or play video games.   If they were stumped, I would challenge them to play a game or eat dinner with their siblings or call a grandparent or cousin.  In other words, be purposeful.

So in summary, don’t hesitate to treat yourself to a fun night out while leaving your house in a mild state of chaos.  It might just be the best thing for everyone!