"Number One First Date"

From time to time, Eric and I like to have a one-on-one outing with the kids.  I wish I could say it was more often, but weeks slip quickly into months around here.  And while Dean and I have had outings together (grabbing an ice cream or heading to the park), this weekend was our first official date.  The kind of date where he has a secret exchange of funds with Dad, tells me where to drive, and we go out for dinner (where he pays!) and he opens the door and we talk without interruption.

Sweet Dean has been wanting to do this with me for a few weeks now, and asked about it nearly every day.  But the timing had to be just right- Daddy had to be available to watch the other kids, and we couldn't have any other plans, and it couldn't be a school night.  Sooooo Saturday it was!

Eric slipped him $30 and we went on our way.  For about 5 minutes in the car, I lost Dean to multiple questions about money.  "How much will dinner cost?"  "How much if we go to Maggie Moos after?"  "Do they give me the extra money back?"  "What dollars do they make?"  (then there was fascination over why they don't make a $3 bill).  I remember this similar obsession over the money when Grant and I went on our first date around the same age... a slight worry that there won't be enough money to cover it all.

Baja Fresh was Dean's request.  We had just been there the night before as a family so it was fresh on his mind as having good food.  And, he was worried about going to Jason's Deli (apparently his other first choice) because they have an ice cream bar and he didn't want the ice cream bar to replace the, obviously, important Maggie Moos!

In talking with my little guy alone, I realized how important these dates with him will be.  As a middle child, he isn't used to getting to talk for so long without someone speaking over him or suggesting a different opinion (in hopes of swaying his!).  So, I found that he was quiet at times when I would expect Grant or Lael to be chatter boxes.  He will probably have an easier time than others at being quick to listen and slow to speak.

You'll see that we did indeed have enough money after dinner to hit Maggie Moos.  (I even took video at Maggie Moos with my purse camera and Dean was so careful in asking if I could name the video "Number One First Date"- really sweet and I'm sad it wouldn't upload easily.  Drat. Probably too much cuteness for the internet, anyway.  :-))