The Game Table

When we were first married we vowed to continue dating at least weekly, no matter what. We were in love, and it was easy... until we became parents! If it seemed difficult when our boys were young, we found the real challenge came when our oldest started school. Trying to get a date in after work and school, while also making sure our boys got supper and enough sleep, to say nothing of trying not to break the bank on a sitter and a date proved almost impossible. However, going without a date eventually led to us bickering with each other until someone would finally ask, “When was our last date?”

Once, after a frustrating evening, we tried to remember what we enjoyed doing together before we became parents... and could we still do it now? Immediately we had our answer: board games. It’s how we passed time during our engagement, honeymoon, vacations, and pregnancies. At one point we even kept a game in the car for unexpected waiting. We agreed that if we couldn’t go out we could at least schedule a weekly game night.

At first it began at our kitchen table with our favorite snacks. Then we found games that couldn’t be completed in one night so we set up a game table. Now, as we have time over our morning coffee or during the rare occasion when all of the kids are occupied, we sit down for a quick round. We never know if our time at the game table will be filled with light heartedness or if we will have deep direction-changing conversation. Either way, we leave with the knowledge that the other is deeply committed to our marriage.