Like most children, when my two older sisters and I were little, we had no idea just how much time our parents spent tending to our needs
while working full-time jobs, or how difficult it was to find alone-time with one another. Yet many years ago my parents discovered a
way to enjoy a husband and wife date night while entertaining us—their children.
Their unique family night still stands out as a beloved tradition for our family. You see, when my sisters and I were five, six, and
seven-years-old respectively, my father designated one Friday night a month as “Chest House Restaurant Night.”
He gave the evening the name because one of my sisters and I had a large, rectangular, toy chest in our shared bedroom. When Chest
House Restaurant Night came, dad would drape our toy chest with a crisp, white tablecloth and arrange seating around the base. Then he
and my mom would enlist our help in arranging a complete decorative place setting for the three of us.
When the setting was in place, my mother would arrive with an amazing feast: one of our favorite dishes and our preferred beverages.
The three of us would sit down in our room, and wave goodbye to our parents who would then head downstairs, to the dining room, for
their own “Chest House” dinner.
On Chest House Restaurant Night, mom and dad would eat a meal free from cutting food, wiping spills and listening to our constant
chatter. They’d have one special evening, albeit short, to talk about “grown up” topics, savor their meals, and revel warmly in each
other’s company. Meanwhile, my sisters and I enjoyed an evening of children’s chatter, sisterly love, and very good eats. After
dinner, mom and dad would revisit our Chest House Restaurant to serve dessert.
That’s when we’d talk about our evening. We were always thrilled to hear how their dinner went, but anxiously waited to tell them
about the million or so things that happened during our dinner. Once dessert and conversation were over, we worked together to
clear our “table” and close the Chest House Restaurant—until the next month when we’d all prepare for our special evening “in.”
Now that I am a parent, I appreciate the quiet times my husband and I get alone and relish the times we can find a competent babysitter.
In fact, I often think of the Chest House Restaurant where wonderful nights prevailed, no babysitters were required, no fancy clothes
were necessary, and no additional money was spent. What we got in return for our parents' creativity was invaluable.
About The Author:
Kelley R. Taylor is a wife and mother of twin girls. A dedicated attorney and professional writer,
she is always looking for ways to maintain quality family time and nurture her individual needs. Visit her at
KTCreative.net
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