Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth (Proverbs 5:18 ESV).

Do you have a hard time leaving your kids for an overdue date with your spouse? Do you wonder if there are options for reconnecting with each other during the last few weeks of summer before the homeschool year begins again? I answer you with a resounding “YES!” I want to remind you once again that “dating your spouse” is a vital part of raising unique learners! Married couples need to love each other earnestly if we are to survive the marathon and multitude of sins.

My late husband, Cary, and I faced this conundrum of needing dedicated time together as a couple, but no childcare provider was in sight for many years. Once our older kids could finally babysit, they had jobs and their own social life to pursue, so we were often still stuck at home sans babysitters. Besides that, our budget did not even allow for discount matinee movie seats nor cheap fast-food meals. And the distance to town was a factor when gas was exorbitantly priced! So, we were forced to schedule our needed weekly couple time without going out. After all, we did homeschool, so why not home date?

In my second published book, ADOPTION: Encouragement and Advice for a Hopeful Journey, I cataloged in the back section over 75 Creative Dates that my husband and I enjoyed at home through the years. Due to a variety of reasons, including behavior issues from their pre-adoption early childhood trauma, we could not leave our most challenging kids to go out to relax and refresh. We needed dates that were easy to plan and low to no cost at home. Both right-brain artists, we put our heads together, and voila!

I want to share with you a few of those fun ideas that helped keep our marriage strong through thick and thin. Perhaps you can plan to enjoy several of these ideas as a couple over the next month or so until your school year begins. But do not stop dating your spouse at summer’s end! Instead, keep dedicated time for romance going throughout the coming years. These in-home dates will lift your spirits and return joy to your homeschool lifestyle. Your children are watching! They will be encouraged and maybe even laugh and appreciate it when your visible love for one another as a married couple spills out onto them.

Dads, here are some ideas for showing your wife she is still your girlfriend:

• Ask your kids to make dinner, dress in your best, and invite her for a night out at home.
• Clean out your vehicle; provide refreshments in the back seat; together, enjoy her favorite music.
• Light candles in your bedroom and put on some dancing tunes.
• Make drinks and a hearty snack that she will enjoy sharing with you outside under the stars.
• Put fresh sheets on the bed, towels on the rack, and take it from there!

Moms, here are some ideas for showing your husband he is still your one and only beloved boyfriend:

• Clean out and wash his vehicle; park it on the driveway; sit inside with him; chat, laugh, and kiss.
• Do his weekend chores so he can have the day off to plan a date for you two to enjoy.
• Offer to help him clean and organize his man cave while listening to his favorite music.
• Watch his favorite show or sports program with him — without sighing or complaining.
• Wear an outfit he loves to see you in while giving him a massage, and take it from there!

I encourage you to study your spouse and date them in a way that will be meaningful to them. Your list of date ideas might look much different than what I have shared. That is ok! The main thing is to be intentional about investing in your marriage.

If you need specific homeschooling guidance or encouragement during your August planning time for homeschooling your unique learner(s), these online resources might help:

• CHEC Unique Learners Resources 
• HSLDA’s Homeschooling With Special Needs
• SPED Homeschool Heroes

Do your friends or extended family members need help getting started homeschooling? Share this link with them for CHEC’s next Homeschool Introductory Seminar, Saturday, August 10, 2024, in Castle Rock. 

My next Unique Learner blog, “Gearing Up for the New School Year,” will be posted on August 28th (the 4th Wednesday).

Shari McMinn, your trusted homeschooling friend  

P.S. If you have a topic I should write about, please email me with your suggestion(s). This blog is for you!