No Nonsense November Day 9: Dates!

No Nonsense November: Interviews and fun with school-age children and teenagers.

I was thrilled to get to take one of my daughters on a mom-daughter date yesterday and was truly humbled and enlightened as I listened to her concerns and goals. Try scheduling an hour or so for each of your children every month where you can just focus on them. It is definitely a delightful experience.

My husband and I have decided that once our children turn 5 years old, they get to start going on monthly "dates" with dad or mom. One month I take one child and my husband takes the other. The following month we switch and both take the other child.

We keep these pretty low key at my house and don't spend much money on them. The idea isn't necessarily to entertain, but to spend quality time listening and counseling. Having fun is always an important part of this, too!

It's amazing how you can truly get to know your child and feel of their spirit when you take them out of the distractions of other siblings, school, extra-curricular activities and electronics.

Here are some of our favorite "date" activities:

• Go on a bike ride
• Hike a local trail
• Go to the local library and research something interesting to both of us
• Treats at the local gas station and then head to the temple for a walk around it
• Grab our favorite book and take it to the canyon to read it aloud to each other
• Picnic at the park
• Sweet treat and chatting at a local bakery

 “Just a few quiet moments in an interview with a son or daughter can teach a father or mother much about the child…Holding parent-child interviews regularly and creating a positive atmosphere for communication provide opportunities—not only during the interviews but also at other, less formal occasions—to teach and counsel children, listen to their concerns, and to strengthen relationships.”- Wendell P. Droubay, "Heart to Heart", June 1997 LDS Ensign.

Go here to read this insightful article about parent/child interviews.