My A-Z theme for the month of April is romance and the modern, technology-driven cubicle dweller (like me). I struggled for a word for today, and when it came to me I had a face palm moment, because to me romance and dating typically go hand-in-hand.
On a fundamental level, dating is dating. Right at its very core, two people who are attracted to each other set aside a block of time to spend time together, enjoy each other’s company, and grow their attraction for each other.
But the details are a bit trickier. Someone has to work late hours all week, someone else is travelling for the next two. We’re always on the go, we don’t do traditional the way we used to, and so many of us are on-call 24-7 thanks to the ‘time-saving’ devices we strap to our palms called cell phones.
And none of that makes for a very romantic, solitary night out alone together. But there are certainly ways to make it all work. Sneaking off together for a quick lunch (or quick something else ;-). Grabbing half an hour in the morning, early before you have to be in the office and before the emails start pouring in, and having coffee together at that local place you both adore (everyone else is in as big a rush as you, no one will pay attention to a stolen kiss, and maybe a taste more of what happens once you find some privacy). Or even a quick phone call, where sweet (and/or sexy, go on, find a private spot where no one else can hear you) words are exchanged.
What are your favorite ways to grab some quickie date-time with a significant other?
As someone who’s been married 20+ years, I have to say that true dating and spending quality time together is essential for any relationship to work. Yes, our world has changed, but not so much that we don’t require personal interaction with each other. In fact, I believe we probably need a little more people time, precisely because our world has changed so much. It is more important now than ever to unplug and be truly present with the loved ones in our lives these days.
We love to sneak off somewhere private and turn our phones off. That is always the rule. It makes for a much better night when we can’t be interrupted.
Dropping in from A to Z. This is my first year. I love it.
Brett Minor
Transformed Nonconformist
Hello! This is a fun theme for the Challenge. My husband and I don’t have children so we have together time often. We’re not planning on having kids for a while yet, so we’re really enjoying and appreciating these years that are just the two of us!
Happy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
What we do on a date doesn’t seem to matter so much as being truly present with each other.
Sometimes we’re both so tired that we put on a silly movie and have a picnic in bed together!
Tui Snider
visiting from the #AtoZchallenge
Twitter: @mentalmosaic
Blog: http://www.mentalmosaic.com/blog
Brett makes a good point, about shutting off all the gadgets and focusing on one another.
On the other hand, I’m also a believer in absence making the heart grow fonder, so I think time apart now and again, is not a bad thing for a relationship. However, it *is* important to then plan on some couple time and sticking to that plan.
I’m definitely in the camp for switching all phones / tablets off when on a date. We’ve enough distractions these days without more things to tear us away from the beauty sitting across the table from us.
Jamie @ Mithril Wisdom
http://www.mithrilwisdom.com
I’ve been married for nearly seven years and with four kids between us it can be a struggle to find that special time… luckily, my older stepdaughter is really coming into her own as a babysitter! (Yes, she gets paid, and no, we don’t use her for that all the time.) 🙂
Been married 7 years and have 2 young children so it’s hard to find alone time as often as we used to. But usually getting the children to bed by 9pm makes for some fun nights 🙂
Keep Calm and A-Z
An A-Z of learning English
Round the world from A to Z
With two little kids and an unromantic partner, dating for me is non-existent. It certainly makes me miss single life sometimes. Great tips though for stealing some special moments. 🙂
Have fun with a-z.
Yeah. Long distance and dates don’t quite go together. I guess the rare time we are on messenger at the same time could count as a date but that’s the closest we get except for like the once a year we are in the same place at the same time.