He Said…

This weekend Hubby and I instituted Date Night. This is his account of our memorable evening. My account follows in tomorrow’s post She Said…. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present my first guest author.

 

 

My Plan:

1. Take you to an expensive place to eat…
2. Spend some quality time chatting about stuff (other than the children)
3. Talk more about you, your goals and how I can help…
4. Enjoy a movie, depending on how early we would start

This is How it Went Down:
The Good

• We did have the date night
• It was just me and you
• The food was good
• The conversation was light (shared introspection and personal views on politics and religion

The Bad

• Started later than expected (thanks to last minute shopping for the kids )
• Despite wanting to take you to a high end place, we went to Macaroni Grill because it was late, the restaurant was close to home, and the fact that we hadn’t been there for a long time (I know, not your favorite place)

The Ugly

• The conversation about the kids was great… until we got to the part about education
• We started talking Math
• Then I started explaining…

When I start explaining:

• I think I am doing a great job, while the others are rolling their eyes
• I get mad
• The discussion gets heated
• I don’t let go
• This is what we call “to Hell in a hand basket” and real quick :)…

The Way it Ended:

• After discussion went south, I was in a hurry to leave and forgot my credit card at the restaurant
• Drove straight home from the restaurant, no movie, no dancing, or anything
• We continued the discussion in the car during the drive home
• We continued the discussion sitting in the car, with the car in the driveway
• A potentially great Date Night, ended up in the proverbial “dog house”

What I Learnt:

• Never try to discuss math when she is eating dessert!
• We have to re-learn to communicate with each other, communication takes skills and talent
• Better communication means “tell her what she wants to hear” 🙂
• Don’t discuss the kids on Date Night
• Date Night is not for solving personal/household issues, it is to set the stage so you can have those communications in a friendlier environment
• The effect of nights like this tend to last longer than the night itself…. So use it wisely
• Ask servers to take the food away from the table when we’re done or we will continue to graze until it’s done
• I need to treat you to a new wardrobe for Date Night!
• Just because you are dis-interested in my impromptu math class, does not mean that you are ignoring me
• Different people learn differently….Everybody is not wired the same… It is OK to think differently…(but I still can’t believe you didn’t get that wonderful exposition on fractions)
• There is no baseline to understanding. If you say you don’t understand something, I should listen and not state that it is impossible for you not to understand. (but once again… I still can’t believe you didn’t get that wonderful exposition on fractions)

What I Will Do Next Time:

• Make Date Night about more than just food. We have not gone dancing in a while… we should try that again
• Take a walk on the beach
• I should avoid teaching… but I am not sure I can guarantee that 😉
• End the night on a better note
• Remember that patience is a virtue…

Love,
Hubby

PS:  For follow up please read  She Said… and Date Night Revisited.