Dating A Younger Man
May 3, 2008
Last night Daren was out of town and Dylan had a birthday party to go to. Since my in-laws were picking Dylan up to keep him for a sleepover, and my dinner guests had canceled, I thought it would be nice to have a date with a younger man: my 3 year old.
So we hit Blockbuster and Thomas picked out two very sophisticated movies complete with Mickey Mouse and a certain porous yellow fella.
When we got home, my date stood on a chair to help me spread nacho chips on a cookie sheet and steal sweet onions as I chopped them and laid them out over grated cheese and diced tomatoes. He watched as I whipped up guacamole and it was he who dutifully carried two ramekins of sour cream down to the coffee table in the family room — one at a time.
When the baked nachos were ready, we settled down to eat and watch Patrick, Squidward, Sandy and Spongebob, both of us laughing out loud at age appropriate jokes, (Have you ever watched this show? Holy barnacles it’s killer funny in spots.).
While my date really enjoyed his dinner, we both stole sideways glances at each other, smiling. It was clear that we were both enjoying the evening. My date was allowed to stay up an hour past his bedtime, and when he did go to bed, he got to sleep in his big brother’s bed, though he wanted to sleep upside down with his feet at the pillow side of the bed.
He hugged me so hard at bedtime, he knocked me over from the sitting position I was in on the bed and giggled his head off.
And even though I had to brush my little date’s teeth and help him put his jammies on, it was the best date I’ve ever had with a younger man.
He had fun too. This morning he came to the side of my bed and said, “Mom? Mom?”
“Yes Thomas,” I answered groggily.
“I loveded the last day,” he claimed (his way of saying last night).
“Me too buddy,” I said, “Do you want to climb in and snuggle?”
He crawled into the softness of my bed, pulled the duvet over himself, and put one little arm over my shoulder as he nestled in.
“Awwww I love you buddy,” I told him.
He put his hand on my cheek, and said, “You’re the bestest Mom ever.”
And right then, I really felt like I was.
I’ve talked about dating your husband before…but dating your kids? Heartwarming.
When’s the last time you had one-on-one time with one of your kids? What did you do?
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Tears. Tears, I tell you! And I haven’t PMS’d since 1975.
Mattie’s last blog post..Therapy: Session II
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I love going on dates with my three year old daughter. My husband works on Saturday nights. So that’s usually our date night. She helps me make dinner, and we usually pick out a movie to watch together. Sometimes she does my make-up. which is scary. But dating my kid is fabulous.
Amanda (Shamelessly Sassy)’s last blog post..Koumpounophobia:Fear of Buttons
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
So sweet!!! I love dates with my 2 year old! We’re bug fans of Safari nights at home, but if he had it his way we’d go out to eat and hit up the mall carosuel (He says “last morning” and “last day” too, cracks me up!)
Mama’s Nest - Ashlee’s last blog post..Apparently…
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
The Boy and I have dates. We have done the Ratatouille complete with popcorn and drinks.
Sometimes we do dinner.
And yeah, he still comes into the best for morning snuggles.
Nat’s last blog post..Confessions of a reluctant soccer mom
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I’ve gone out for chicken wings with The Boy, while hubby takes The Girl out for pizza.
It’s loads of fun for both kids, and us as well. They remember it for ages, and when they talk about it, they obviously feel very special.
Nenette’s last blog post..10 Reasons Why I Blog
May 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
How sweet is that?!
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May 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 pm
The D-man and I spent the day at a cultural festival that was happening in town. It was lots of fun. He’s so tuckered out right now….I love it.
dana’s last blog post..SimplyMobile Mom
May 5th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hi Karen, I too love spongebob its a great one to watch together. On friday I had a date with my 8 year old. We went to a fun centre and went on rides together and had our portrait done too, he told me it was the best day of his life and kept hugging me for the rest of the day. That day I too felt like the bestest mother ever!!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Am dating a younger man - 20 years younger - help me feel comfortable
May 6th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I love this post. It is things like this that make all the difficult times so worth it.
I love one on one time with each of my kids, but I have to say that my most difficult youngest is so easy to take care of when we are alone that I am thinking he isn’t necessarily difficult by nature, it is just hard for him to be the 4th child.
I just went way off track, so I will finish up by saying that I am so happy that you had a wonderful evening with a wonderful little man. Times like these are the ones I want to freeze in my head so I never ever forget them!
tori’s last blog post..Cancerversary-year 3
May 6th, 2008 at 11:44 am
P.S. My kids say “last morning” and “last day” too. In fact, they used to think that when I told them it was their “last warning” about something that I was talking about the previous day. It took me forever to figure out what the heck they were not understanding!
tori’s last blog post..Cancerversary-year 3
May 6th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I also love “dating” my little guy. He tells me I am his bestest grown-up. He can pretty much get away with anything after that!
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May 6th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
some of y’all’s comments (and accidentally mistypings!, like “he still comes into the ‘best’ for morning snuggles…”) totally made my ovaries explode! “the best!”. of course it’s the best! it’s his parents’ bed!!!
May 6th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Old Maid, baby! The best card game ever invented.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:21 am
i am nowhere near ready to have children, but that post brought tears to my eyes. i want *that* someday!!! i think working for a parenting program has really awakened my maternal instinct
too bad it’s going to be awhile before it’s put to use…
May 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Well, my last date with my girls was a week ago in Waco. Spent the day touring their campus, eating, playing pool, and just having a great time being in their company.
Karls last blog post..I Miss Dallas Already