Crushing on stay-at-home dates
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
Valentine鈥檚 Day during the week means observances of the holiday that celebrates love will continue into this weekend. There are plenty of opportunities to go out with your sweetheart, but the holiday is also an occasion to note the pleasure of stay-at-home dates.
Having a date at home is a great way to relax and enjoy each other鈥檚 company.
鈥淭he value in an at-home date would be just as good as having a date outside the house,鈥� said Adam Sedlock, Uniontown psychologist and owner of ACS Psychological Associates.
Sedlock said there鈥檚 also an advantage to being in a familiar environment. For some, it can be more romantic.
鈥淩omance is all in the eye of the beholder,鈥� explained Sedlock. 鈥淪taying at home can be far more romantic than getting in the car and going place to place.鈥�
A stay-at-home date can help couples who are watching finances although they may want to spring on niceties to enhance the experience. Staying at home can be just the thing if a couple is worn out from their work week and taking care of family.
鈥淚 think in today鈥檚 society, everything鈥檚 very go, go, go, and it鈥檚 hard to find time to get together with your significant other. A date at home is a great alternative to going out. Going out can be more stressful because it鈥檚 one more thing you have to squeeze into the schedule,鈥� said Dr. Robert Mehalik, assistant professor, Counselor Education, California University of Pennsylvania, noting parents can be just as busy running with their children鈥檚 activities than their own. 鈥淲hen a date is viewed as one more thing we have to do, it takes away from the meaning of it. I think staying at home and doing something is a great thing.鈥�
Couples planning a stay-at-home date can find a variety of ways to make it special whether it鈥檚 watching a movie they鈥檝e been wanting to see or opening a bottle of wine.
鈥淚t can be a time to try something new,鈥� said Mehalik. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 cook a lot, you might want to try cooking something together.鈥�
鈥淵ou can use your imagination,鈥� said Sedlock.
Couples with children can make sure they鈥檙e alone by putting their children to bed early or sending them to stay with family or friends.
And don鈥檛 forget to disconnect from phones, email and other distractions.
鈥淚n today鈥檚 society, we鈥檙e always connected and losing face-to-face, intimate time with others,鈥� said Mehalik. 鈥淚f we can get back to that, it鈥檚 very beneficial.鈥�
Both men said it鈥檚 important for couples to have time alone.
鈥淚 think the longer couples are together, intimacy dwindles,鈥� said Mehalik. 鈥淔olks get caught up in careers, other family issues, social issues. It鈥檚 all about time. When time gets filled up with other things, time for your partner decreases.鈥�
鈥淵ou need time together to rebuild your interpersonal relationship,鈥� Sedlock explained. 鈥淢arried couples with children should have one weekend together per month. The books said you should have two weeks together a year. I don鈥檛 know anyone 鈥� including myself 鈥� who鈥檚 able to do that but it shows you how important and vital it is for married couples to have time together. And for couples who don鈥檛 have children, staying at home can be a nice break. Just curl up and watch TV or listen to music.鈥�
Sedlock noted, 鈥淲e all get caught up in life and forget the other person we鈥檙e living with all this time is still there. You need to build that relationship regardless of how old you are. A relationship is an ongoing process no matter your age: whether you鈥檙e in your 20s or senior citizens. You should never take the other person for granted. We鈥檙e always changing. Relationships have to be fluid and not stagnant.鈥�
Valentine鈥檚 Day is a reminder that couples need to pay attention to each other.
Mehalik commented, 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that should happen more than once a year, but it鈥檚 a start.鈥�
So whether a couple decides to dress up or keep it casual, here are some suggestions for stay-home dates:
A romantic dinner: One could enjoy cooking a special dinner for the other but why not cook dinner together? Try a more expensive cut of meat or a new recipe. Don鈥檛 forget dessert, including something as simple yet special as strawberries and chocolate. Use a nice tablecloth and candles. A bottle of wine adds to the occasion.
Movies: Stream or play a DVD of such romantic comedies as 鈥淲hen Harry Met Sally,鈥� 鈥淣ever Been Kissed鈥� or 鈥淢y Big Fat Greek Wedding,鈥� or dramas like 鈥淧ride and Prejudice,鈥� 鈥淕host鈥� or 鈥淭itanic.鈥� Or skip the romance and make it a marathon of favorite films, such as 鈥淗arry Potter,鈥� 鈥淛urassic Park鈥� or 鈥淪tar Trek.鈥� Don鈥檛 forget the popcorn and pizza.
Game Night: Gather up classic games that can be enjoyed by two people, such as Scrabble, Battleship, chess or checkers. Don鈥檛 forget puzzles. Or make it video games like Minecraft and Super Mario. Maybe splurge and buy something new. Those lucky enough to have a pool table or ping pong table should take advantage of it.
Walk together: Couples whose property is big enough, can take a walk to explore the grounds. If not, take a walk around the neighborhood. If there鈥檚 snow, build a snowman. Pay attention to nature.
Dance party: Slow it down or pump it up with music. Move the furniture and dance the night away. And it might be time to try karaoke.
Relaxation: Busy schedules can mean burn out. Take it easy by giving each other massages, curl up in front of a fire in your fireplace or just relax on the couch under an afghan or warm blanket. Add a soothing drink like hot chocolate.
Stay-at-home dates can be simple but they should always be special. Pay attention to details. Talk to each other. Plan for the future but enjoy the moment.