Tip #6.
by josh and jenny solar of the happy family movement
let your love lead your life
We all know that when parents have a good relationship, it’s good for the whole family. But what we don’t hear often enough is how important it is to WORK at that relationship and nurture it. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day things that come along with raising a happy family… like grocery shopping, working, toting kids to soccer, folding laundry, mowing the lawn, fixing a broken garbage disposal, kissing owies, etc. And sometimes, it’s your relationship with your spouse/partner/co-parent that suffers.
a creative way to stay connected
So, I was chatting with a good friend and came up with an idea to create a jar of activities for Josh and I to do together to stay connected and have fun with each other. And I totally thought, I’ll just hop on Pinterest and SURELY, someone will have something just like that, and there you go. Well, I couldn’t find ANYTHING on Pinterest. I found quite a few “date night jars”, but that’s not what I wanted. I had something different in mind. And thus, the “Laugh, Love, Reconnect” jar was born.
what to put in the jar?
With my friend Natalie, I came up with a list of fun little ideas. Then I made a run to Target (you know I love Target!) and picked up some little note cards with envelopes and a glass jar. I wrote an activity on each card and tossed them into the jar.
it’s not about date night…it’s about everyday
Every day (in theory… we’re not really great about doing it every day, but we’re getting there!), Josh pulls out an envelope and we do whatever the note card says. This is different from date night ideas because they are simple ideas that take minimal time and effort, yet remind us how important it is to laugh and have fun together. Every activity in the jar can be done in 5-10 minutes! (And bonus: these fun activities still work even if you don’t have kids!)
Here are a few of my favorites:
* Find a workout video from the 80′s and do 10 minutes of it together
* Have a staring contest
* Karaoke the cheesiest song you can find
* Make up your own secret hand shake
Meet Josh and Jenny
Jenny and Josh Solar are high school sweethearts who have been married for almost 11 years. They have three kids, Max, Ava, & Lia and a basset hound named Banana. They’re entrepreneurs at heart and are very passionate about their family.
In 2005, the Solars opened a wedding and portrait photography business that they are still active in today. In 2011, they created The Happy Family Movement a website and blog dedicated to exploring raising a happy family through intentional living and creating memorable family experiences. In 2014, they created Phone Monsters, Inc. The company’s mission is to improve family life by creating products that help foster strong family connections. The company’s flagship product is Ned the Phone Monster. Ned stands for ‘No Electronic Distractions’.
Thank you, Josh and Jenny! What a fantastic idea!
If you enjoyed this tip, you’ll want to check out Better Together!
You are reading This is Not Date Night from davinafear.com. If you liked this post, you may enjoy: Better Together Tip #1: Don’t fight over the butter from davinafear.com.
By day, I photograph families. By night, I build forts the size of elephants with my family. I live in a yellow house. I believe real life is the best getaway ever.
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