Recently, my wife and daughters were away overnight for a Girl Scout camping trip, leaving me alone at home. After cleaning my youngest daughter’s room (I can’t help it, I’m my mother’s son) and working out a bit at the gym, I decided to recapture some of my teenage glory. That’s right, I went into the city to see a couple of art house films and go to a concert with two bands that no one ever heard of. It was glorious.
So we asked the moms and dads of the Life of Dad Facebook community, what would you do during a night without the kids? Here are a sample of the responses which offer some insight into what we moms and dads really want to do when alone:
“My kids are with their mom this weekend. So I let loose & got a lil wild. I washed clothes, cleaned the house without having to threaten anyone to get some help. Then I got “jiggy wit it”. Wings, ranch dressing & NBA playoffs.” — Tony Wilson
“I’d go watch a movie, with or without someone else, because I haven’t been in almost five years. Then I’d go shoot some pool and listen to music for hours.” — Richard Patrick Howell
David King needs to hang out with Richard above, assuming they could agree on a Netflix movie 😉
“Not sure haven’t been out in like 2 yrs I guess maybe catch a movie then head to the bar near my place to play some pool with some friends that I know hit up that place. Then head home and watch Netflix till I fell asleep.”
“Close all of the blinds, get in my birthday suite with my husband and get comfy on the couch and eat all the ice cream in the freezer!” — Annette Ramirez
“Do what i do every night. Once the kids are down at 7pm I play games on my computer. I can drink if I want but usually just drink tea. Just because I have kids doesn’t mean my nights at home with kids aren’t awesome.” — Barry Duncan
“Wife took the kids to visit family across the state today. I’m getting caught up on work. Might go out to eat later. Maybe read a book. Wild times…” — Stephen Proctor
“My husband would play video games and eat popcorn. I would go to the batting cages and cruise with oldies playing from my car.” — Mary Alvarez
“I’d need two nights. One to catch up in sleep, and one to do something fun.” — Adam Blevins
Tony Edwards is a realist: “I’d love to think I’d make awesome plans but I’d probable just go to bed early.”
“Sit outside, enjoy the breeze and a rum & coke.” — Julio Gonzalez
“My kiddo went to the grandparents for the weekend so the hubby & I watched Star Wars last night and tonight we played Mario Kart! #nerds” — Kayla Davis
Leigh Whitten: “Sleep… but really…dinner then go check out some live music or catch a movie with my wife.”
Remember, you may have the best intentions for a night without the kids but it doesn’t always go according to plan, as Paul Hughes describes: “the first night off I had in over a year I was booked in to a motel had 6 pack beer and (free) pay TV. Two beers later, about 9pm, I fell alseep.”
What would you do if you had a night without the kids? Tell us on our Facebook page!
*Beer keg photo by Jenn Durfey, used under Creative Commons license.