There are many positives about being part of a blended family.  One of them being that the children happily have regular contact with their dad (whom they adore) – every other weekend off they go to spend a couple of days with daddy.  They get thoroughly spoilt in my opinion whilst with him, but I try not to question his parenting style (at least not directly to him, I might have a bit of a moan about it to others now and again), and he pretty much returns the favour.

Whilst I miss them terribly on the weekends they aren’t here, there are things I enjoy.  A clean and tidy house for one, and date night with hubby is another (without the need to search and beg for a babysitter).

Date night isn’t always some major event.  Sometimes it’s just staying in, a curry and some telly – but it’s just the two of us. Time for us to catch up, talk, laugh, talk some more.  It’s often time we use to talk about where we are heading, individually, as a couple and as a family.  It ensures that we are always working towards shared goals, on the same page so to speak.  It’s all too easy with busy lives especially given we live in different places to not chat over, discuss and share our thoughts, aspirations, concerns from the littlest insignificant things, to the whopping great bit stuff.  I love our date nights regardless of what we do.  Hubby is great for making all my stresses and strains drift away.  Life becomes more in balance again, after our chats I seem to be able to once again see the wood for the trees, clarity and calm returns to what is usually a bit of a highly strung life.

This week I fancied cocktails (or rather mocktails given the lack of alcohol content for me). Hubby is always happy to oblige, especially as if somewhere along the line it includes food, we enjoy a bit of spice now and again, so went to a Mexican where i knew had a pretty decent non alcoholic cocktail menu.

In my Mocktail wanted a bit of sophistication, to indulge myself a little, I was thinking tall glass, umbrella, sparkler even and the obligatory cherry.  Hmm.. now what I got was a jam jar with a handle… granted it had the cherry.. but in a jam jar!

Excuse me, but this is not my idea of a classy ladies drink, it felt more like I was holding a pint topped with a bit of fruit.  Isn’t part of the cocktail experience that of feeling a bit chic, a bit special.  I was sadly disappointed.  The drink itself tasted great so hubby simply couldn’t understand the problem, but gotta say, was a tad deflated.  It may well be the modern, urban, fashionable and trendy way to be serving up drinks now a days – clearly I am none of these, and quite happy not to be too.

The drinks and subsequent food served its purpose – a much enjoyed date night – a chance dress up a little, get the lippy on, hold hands like teenagers and put the world to rights.

What do you do for date nights?