“Dad, can we go on one last date together?”
Those were the words my 22-year-old daughter said to me just before she got married last weekend.
There’s something incredibly special about spending individual time with each of your children. Truly listening to their dreams, investing in their hearts, and being their biggest cheerleader.
All four of our kids have cherished these moments. Whether it was a planned daddy-daughter date, an impromptu run to the convenience store, wrestling on the living room floor, or playing in the backyard, they soaked up that undivided attention.
And if I’m honest… so did I.
These one-on-one times gave us the chance to meet specific needs in our kids’ lives that can sometimes get lost in the beautiful chaos of family life.
For my daughter and me, daddy-daughter dates have been our thing since she was little.
In her letter to me at the wedding, she wrote, “Thank you for pouring your life, time, and love into me. You will never know how much our Salty Dog, Arby’s, and Chipotle dates mean to me.”
To a child (even a grown one), individual time speaks love loudly.
Last week’s date was the last one… at least while I could still officially call her “Daddy’s little girl.”
Thankfully, I gave her away to a young man who has proven he will love and treat her as well as I have tried to all these years. That made the weekend a little easier, although only a little.
So here’s my question for you today: How can you invest even a small amount of individual time in your kids this week?
Who knows, maybe they’ll make your day by still wanting to spend one-on-one time with you… even when they’re adults.
As someone wisely put it:
“You’ll know you’ve been successful when your kids still enjoy coming home, even when they no longer have to.”
For the next generation,
PS – If you have a daughter, here’s a short list of date ideas:
| Classic Outings: Ice cream or frozen yogurt shop Breakfast at a diner or pancake house Mini golf or bowling Movie and popcorn Park picnic with her favorite snacks Creative & Fun: Paint pottery at a ceramic studio Build something together at a hardware store workshop Bake cookies or make pizza at home Visit a children’s museum or science center Bookstore browse and pick out a new book Special Experiences: Daddy-daughter “fancy” dinner (she picks the restaurant) Attend a local play, concert, or show Visit a zoo, aquarium, or petting farm Stargazing with hot chocolate Take a “photography walk” where she’s the photographer Pro Tip: Let her help pick the activity—it makes it even more special! And remember, the goal is quality time, not expensive outings. |
Time flies… make it count.
Andrew Linder is a husband, the father of four awesome kids, and a children’s pastor at a thriving church. He is the founder of GodlyParent.com and is passionate about intentional parenting and helping other parents and leaders effectively reach the next generation. He is also the author of the new book, Godly Parenting In An Ungodly World: How to raise not just good but godly kids through heart-driven grace-based parenting.
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