Getting out of the house without the kids for date night might be exhilarating in and of itself. No one to feed, no needing to change a diaper during dessert. But after awhile, date night with your partner can become pretty predictable (read: boring). You already know what they’re going to say, how they’re going to say it, and you might find yourself counting down the minutes until you’re back at home in bed wearing your jammies. That’s why you should consider shaking up your boring Saturday night dinner/movie/back by 10 p.m. routine by having double dates with friends. “Double dating may seem less romantic than a quiet night alone with your partner, but studies show that it can be healthy for a relationship,” says Lori Bizzoco, a relationship expert and founder of cupidspulse.com, a celebrity relationship site. Below are the benefits of buddying up on date night:
It Creates Cool Conversations
Dinner-for-two chit chat can get as stale as those bread rolls on the table. And inadvertently, your conversation is going to channel itself to the most familiar topic you both know: the kids. But the point of date night is to get a break from the kids, in every way. So having another couple present can open the door to new discussions — like the virtues of a spontaneous weekend getaway or how your friends handle their cranky threenager. Being open —and hearing fresh opinions on different topics— allows you to bond not only with your friends, but your spouse as well.
It Provides Perspective
It’s a slippery slope for you and your partner to start feeling and acting like an old married couple…even if you’ve only been together for a short time. As you sip your dessert wine, though, observe how the other couple interacts. Do they bicker over minor mistakes, or are they snuggling lovebirds? Watching how other couples behave together can actually strengthen your own marriage by providing some much-needed perspective on how others communicate. It might even prompt some discussion on your own much-needed relationship repairs during the ride home.
It Promotes Intimacy
While it may seem counterintuitive, spending time with another couple can be very romantic. It takes the pressure off of you and your partner to, um, perform, for each other and allows for the exchange of laughter and ideas from everyone. After all, a light, laughter-filled evening is a definite stress reliever. And in turn, that can produce happy, amorous emotions in your own relationship that will last long after the night ends.
Having double dates with friends is a great way to encourage new conversations and experiences that you might not have had otherwise. It gives you something to look forward to during the week, and might help you to see your relationship in a whole new light.