Every now and then, Zoe and I like to get out the house for mommy and me date. Truth be told, I can tell she misses having me all to herself and I definitely miss our special one on one time. Now that Baby E is older, I either leave him with dad or hire a sitter (thanks, Jasmine) to watch him while Zoe and I head out on our own adventures. Funny thing is I always ask Zoe what she wants to do. Her list usually goes like this:
Mommy and Me Date Ideas
Pancakes
Denny’s here we come! This has become on of our most favorite mommy and me dates. It’s perfect because Zoe gets to pick her own meal from her very own menu. I usually let her pick what I’m eating too and 9 times out of 10 her choice is pancakes for both of us. Now we all know this mama doesn’t need to eat too many pancakes but who am I to deny my little ladybug this joy.
Nope, I dig right in and enjoy the all new and improved buttermilk pancakes from Denny’s. Have you had them? They are 50% fluffier than the previous pancakes and made with fresh ingredients including real eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Go get some now.
The Playground
It’s all about the swings for my little ladybug. She will swing for hours. We usually end up walking on one of the trails first so mama can get some exercise in but then it is always the swings. I get a little arm workout in and she gets to squeal to her heart content screaming “higher mommy, higher”.
To Get Balloons
My kid loves balloons. We make a date out of it because well, it’s the little things. It is a little drive because I am all about being frugal so we go to the dollar store to get our balloon date on. This mommy and me date usually involves her posing for pictures with her balloons. Need a quick way to cheer your toddler up? Balloons work every single time.
Grocery Shopping
Ok, this may sound crazy but a trip to the grocery store qualifies as a mommy and me date. Z likes to carry her own hand basket or push the grocery cart around. She helps picks things off the shelves always adding more than we came for. LOL. And she is a pro at self-checkout. And then we stop for ice cream on the way home.
Gym
Sometimes we take a mommy and me class together but what Zoe really loves is the car ride to the gym and then getting to play in the playroom while I workout. Not exactly a date because we don’t spend the entire time together but Z still calls it “girl time” so I’ll take it. Plus it’s perfect for working off the ice cream we I eat.
By now you realize a mommy and me date doesn’t have to be anything fancy. I plan on enjoying high tea with Zoe soon but all in all, we do what we can to spend one on one time together. One thing I realize is that kids don’t care so long as they feel connected and special to you. So when is your next pancake mommy and me date? P.S. Kids eat free on Tuesday from 4pm on at Denny’s so make your date a dinner date sometimes. The kid’s buttermilk pancake stack is a big hit. Get some fruits or chocolate on top. What’s your favorite mommy and me date outing?
In celebration of their pancakes, Denny’s social and digital channels will be extending the pancake party with custom Snapchat filters, Facebook Live events, YouTube videos and a ‘Pancake Rejection Simulator,’ an interactive application where guests can practice telling loved ones their pancakes are now second best (I can’t wait to use this on the hubs). Their hit animated web series, “The Grand Slams” will also be joining the fun with several special episodes celebrating the gang’s new-and-improved fluffy Pancake character.
What’s your favorite mommy and me date outing?
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