I want to set up a date for my parents. Ideas?

[Anonymous]

My parents have been maried now for 28 years, and they forgot how to have fun. I am now 23 and they still expect me to spend my time with them, and when I am gone (in another city, for college), they just keep thinking about me. I want to show them that they can have fun by themselves, that they are not that old to just stay forever at home and wait death.. Now their only fun activities are calculating the price of food to find the cheapest option (even though we do not struggle with money), and to fight with eachother for stupid little things, like two old people. Their life is impacting mine and I can't do anything without my father saying that it is too expensive, or my mother complaining just for the heck of it.

What can I do for them? Give me some ideas. This week it was their anniversary and I went with my father to buy her a gift and everywhere we went, he just calculated where are the cheapest flowers, and got her a potted flower for 10 bucks, to put in the garden... pathetic. I need something to force them to go somewhere, but I can't prepay a restaurant meal, can I? I wanted to make them go bowling, but you pay 3 bucks per entrance, there is no way I could get a voucher for that. The next theatre where I can get tickets is 2 months from now, and at the cinema there are only cartoons, horror movies and one superhero movie, none of which are suitable. I wanted to buy them a voucher for a massage, because I have gotten that for my girlfriend a while back in another city, but I could only find erotic massages in my home city.. I need something, idealy, where they could not see the prices up front (like a menu, or posted on the wall). What ideas have you got?

[Oliverlogan263]

Here are some ideas for a low-key date night your parents might enjoy without worrying about prices up front:

- Picnic dinner at a local park. Pack a basket of their favorite foods and maybe include a bottle of wine. Have a nice blanket set up when they arrive.

- Cooking class. Look for one that includes all the ingredients so they can learn to make a nice meal together without costs coming into play.

- Museum trip. Many have a specific free admission night each week so they could explore new exhibits.

- Stargazing. Find a nice spot away from the city lights to look at constellations with binoculars. You could include a thermos of coffee or tea.

- Board game night. Set up games like Scrabble or backgammon at home with snacks. Leave money out of it by making it about fun, not prizes.

- DIY project. Something they can create together like photo books, painted pots, or a puzzle would give activities to share.

The key is low-pressure activities they find meaningful where money isn't discussed. Hopefully getting them out of the house doing new things together will help them reconnect beyond finances. Keep it simple and focus on quality time. With your support, I'm sure they'll start having fun again!

[CuriousHubby]

Very hard sounds like that live though you and miss spending time with you!

Get a female friend or girlfriend and do a double date! Your right they have forgotten fun. Also might not be fun for them like it used to.

Dances, hotels, painting classes...

[Asker]

Double date, like them and me and my girlfriend? My girlfriend can't stand them, but besides that, my father once wanted to take us somewhere, we sat down at the restaurant, he quickly read the prices and said that it is too expensive and made us get up and go to a fast food in the mall (the cheapest one, obviously, not a known name). He invited us, in the first place!!
I have to find something I can pay in advance and him never knowing the price.

[CuriousHubby]

You can but find something free like a walk or a hike! Sounds like your parents have forgotten how to have fun! Get them together with friends and see what each one likes to do!

Just talk seperatlynwoth them see what they did before!