Skipping Dinner & a Movie for a Touchdown

Dating My Baby Daddy: Skipping Dinner & a Movie for a Touchdown

I have a theory on why dinner and a movie is the classic go-to plan for date night: it’s E-A-S-Y. It can be kind of pricey, but it is definitely easy. The hardest parts of the evening come at two points: deciding on what to order at the restaurant and which movie to see at the theater. Other than that, there’s not a lot of planning either you or your partner have to do. And let’s be real, it is en-joy-able! There’s conversation at dinner (no clean up required, nor weird smells lingering in your kitchen) and the movie let’s you veg out while being entertained. Totally awesome. Until it becomes totally predictable.

Both before and after kids, Sam and I have had many dinner and a movie date nights, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. After kids, however…especially in the newborn stage…we found we watch more TV/movies at home than prior to having kids. We don’t drink alcohol, but, for better or worse, TV is our signature cocktail for unwinding at the end of a crazy day Thus, when we go out now, it’s less often that a movie is as appealing as other options. One reason to go out is to forgo the week’s predictable habits, right?

So last Friday night my boo and I were trying to keep costs low, stay nearby since we were paying a younger baby sitter, and do something different than dinner and a movie. I’ve been sitting on my butt watching way too many hours of TV while breastfeeding for the past several weeks, and I’m telling you. I was just OVER IT. “I’m not going anywhere where I’m going to watch a *)(*# screen!”, I thought as I was trying to plan the night. Well that takes out movie theaters, some restaurants, bowling alleys, and many other forms of suburban entertainment. We couldn’t go dancing, because it’s downtown (which we live further from these days), and cost….and my postpartum dance moves. I’m just not there yet. “It’s Fall. What is going on in the Fall at night?!” I’m racking my brain when it just becomes so simple, so clear. High school football games are going on at night in the Fall!!!! Swoon.

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Maybe it’s my hormonally induced nostalgia, but maybe you also remember them with fondness? You showed up, late of course, in some outfit you were gaga for (only to be covered up by your fleece pullover later in the night when it got too cold to favor appearance over comfort), scanning the crowds for your crush of that week. You find him. You canoodle your way closer and hope he notices. He does. You’re cheering for your team. Cheering TOGETHER. You’re planning your lives together…haha OK, maybe not. I could go on, but I’m afraid you get the point. I was all about the high school football scene back in the day. What better way to spend a date night than reliving this kind of fun with my forever crush? All the good aspects, none of the drama. (Was it me, or was there always some sort of drama at those games?)

I text Sam my idea. He’s down. Exact words are “That’s genius”. Yes, I realize this, I’m glad he does too  Our closest high school is playing at another nearby school. Perfect! It’s $6 a ticket and there is hot chocolate and angry parents of players yelling at refs and people watching on a to-die-for level. There is also dance team hiccups and senior night for the marching band and young love and heartbreak. All. Over. The. Place. It was like a REAL reminder of how good two sensible adults have it in the love department. Oh, and lots of canoodling. It was superb.

Why hadn’t we ever done this in the last several years? Doesn’t matter. We’ll totally do this again!

Touch. Down.

Entertainment Level: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Planning Required: Minimal – just know when and where the game is located and if you need cash to get into game.
Cost Associated: $

$ | $5+/person
$$ | $20+/person
$$$ | $50+/person
$$$$ | $75+/person