Fitting one-on-one time with your child can be difficult amongst all of the other activities you and your child are involved in.  But it is especially important if you have more than one child, I know, I have four children.  My oldest two are girls, one is 16 and the other is 8.  I find it difficult to find things we can all three do together due to the difference in their ages.  Years ago I started what we call “date night” with my girls (my boys are too young for this right now, but will get their opportunity someday).  We plan an evening to spend just the two of us.  Depending on which girl I am having “date night” with our plans can be just about anything.

My oldest daughter and I like to see movies together.  We usually go to dinner and then see a chick flick, scary movie or whatever interests us that night.  The last date we were on we saw “Juno” which was a fabulous movie.  After the movie I like to take her out for ice cream or dessert somewhere.  That way we have an opportunity to talk about her life without a lot of interruptions and she can speak more freely.  Being sixteen has its challenges and believe me, we are facing a lot of them.  But having this one-on-one time helps to better understand her situation, feeling, etc.  I think it helps her to realize that I really do care and that she can talk to me.  It is hard when you have 4 kids, a husband and a dog that all want equal time with mom on a regular basis.  We are able to have fun together and able to make up for some of the time she gets cheated because one of the younger kids is requiring most of my attention.

My second oldest daughter and I like to go to movies as well.  Sometimes we shop (she loves shoes) or do other things that she is interested in.  I have been known to put on a pair of skates and try my best at not falling down.  Again, it gives us time to spend alone, without interruption, and time to just enjoy each other’s company. 

I highly recommend taking your children individually on dates one or two nights a month.  It is those times that they will remember for the rest of their lives.  The times when mom (or dad) pushed everything else aside and spent an evening with them.  They will love you for it and probably do the same thing for their kids someday.  What a great gift to give them.