During a recent interview, Anna
Duggar told us how she and Josh do date nights now that they live in Washington
D.C. and do not have family nearby.
Josh and I aren't able to go on
as many dates alone in D.C. as we were able to in Arkansas, but there is a
little Mexican restaurant off the Capitol that we enjoy. Often we just put the
kids to bed and do a date at home. We like to sit on the porch and share our
hearts.
Here, it is
more affordable to bring your children on your date than to hire a babysitter.
So we tell our children: "We are going on a date, but you get to come with
us, and we are going to practice our manners." And the kids will do their
best to have really good manners because they know it's a special occasion. I
remember going on a few dates with my parents as a child, and it was special to
see them take time to focus on each other.
Click here to read what Anna Duggar has to
say about being patient with her kids and here to find out how she handles
meltdowns in public with her little ones.
Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com
Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com
Anna is so sweet. She is a terrific mother to her young children.
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet to take your children around on dates with you and Josh!
ReplyDeleteI know God has a great plan for Mackenzie, Michel, Marcus and baby#4!
-Brandyn Marie
sorry but bringing kids on dates is on a date. there must be friends that they go to church with or other families that have young kids that they could share baby sitting duties so they could have husband and wife time.
ReplyDeleteLove the lovin Duggars! Happy for ya'll, thank-you for sharing about your selves!
ReplyDeleteAt least this wasn't about entreating Grandma into their service! Grandma is looking good these days!
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering why the duggars think a womans purpose in life is to have as many babies as possible? Why don't the duggar women work?? Please answer this question
ReplyDeleteIt's not trying to have as many children as possible but that they view every child as a gift from God which is why they are so excited about every pregnancy. And as every mother can tell you, raising happy, healthy, successful children is very important work.
DeleteThere are many families who still choose for mom to be home. When we work outside, there is work at home that suffers. I think if we are honest we will admit that. I have done both and currently have the luxury of working part time instead of being away from my family 50 hours a week. Whatever disagreement we have, I think we all agree that our children are the most important responsibility we will ever have, eternal souls we will stand before God and give an account for how we raised them.
Deleteexciting date night eating for 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!kk
ReplyDeletemarriage and children certainly agree with anna! she has blossomed into such an awesome wife and mother. i love how she refers to how she was raised and grew up and how much of an impact her parents had on her. what a testament to her parents! mackynzie, michael and marcus are very lucky to be raised by such loving parents.
ReplyDeleteShe is such a sweet Momma!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey have family there frequently or we visiting. Why can't they find a sitter? Why are they so isolated?
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh!! Cool!
ReplyDeleteRegardless of religious affiliation, this is a normal issue so many couples deal with after children. Bravo, for making it normal that some people just don't have the luxury of going out all the time and according babysitters. When you have little kids, you need to be creative to keep the romance alive, or else the kids will take over everything and you forget hot to connect. I love this post, Anna. You are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI can totally understand that, when we do dates we find a day when the kids are either gone or we do it late at night, you are an amazing family with wonderful values.
ReplyDeleteCouples definitely need some time together to share their hearts and this can definitely be more difficult once children are added to the equation. My husband and I spend lots of time with our kids. We truly believe that the family who plays together and prays together stays together, but date night is ours and ours alone. We have often not been able to afford a babysitter and we have always lived far away from family, so one of us puts the kids to bed while the other makes a snack, we each take a moment to freshen up for the other person, and we share some time together once the kids are asleep. We sit together outside, or cuddle together on the couch, and enjoy the time together 'just us'.
ReplyDeleteAnna is a good mama! though, since I am old enough now, I babysit my other 5 soon to be 6 siblings. I don't get paid, but I do get rewarded sometimes! (It's just part of being in a large family)
ReplyDeleteBlessings to the Duggars in DC and in Arkansas!
I was only 1 of 4 kids in our family, and the oldest girl, so I often watched my 2 little sisters and sometimes it wasn't what I would have chosen for the night, but it really is a service to your family, parents and siblings. I think that as you mature you especially get that sense of pride to able to do for your family and help where you can. It really is wonderful to help those whom you hold dearest to your heart. I hope you and your siblings grow up to be great friends. God bless all of you and your family.
DeleteYou are amazing parents and your are so pericous . enjoy the time with them .
ReplyDeleteAnna is perfect if we are reading the blog. In my family, we are not, there is loads of love... But we are making mistake & sometimes laughing about it.....
ReplyDeleteMay God keep blessing their marriage
ReplyDeleteAnna is so sweet<3<3<3
Ive always been envious of how quiet and soft spoken and patient Michelle and Anna are with their children when there having melt downs or misbehaving. Teach me how :) I only have 5 kids and I lose my mind when it happens and it seems like thats the only time they listen to me. How do you do it?
ReplyDeleteWhy you didn´t post about Jasons Birthday?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous 20,
We did write a post about Jason's birthday. :)
http://www.duggarfamilyblog.com/2015/04/duggar-12-turns-15.html
Blessings,
Lily and Ellie
Putting the kids to bed early and getting takeout is a terrific and cost effective way to have a date night and spend some time together. Sometimes it's easier than hiring a babysitter.
ReplyDeleteThis is in response to the person who wants to know why the Duggar women don't work. At-home moms and other at-home women work very hard. It's too bad so.e people in our society no longer acknowledge that.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in the DC area with small children and no babysitter we would sometimes go to Bertucci's, a very child-friendly pizza/Italian restaurant. The food is great and they would bring bread dough for the children to play with - it kept them busy enough that we could have a bit of conversation.
ReplyDeleteI applaud their choice to bring the children and expect "company" manners. It really helps to give them a reference point of good behavior when they get older.
Anna has such a genuinely sweet soul...just like Michelle, I would be proud to have her as a daughter in law.Sincerely, Natalia
ReplyDeleteWhat does she mean about the restaurant being off the Capitol? Does she mean the U.S. Capitol bldg? Does she mean Annapolis, MD? Does she mean a street name?
ReplyDelete