My friend and coworker did the most amazing thing.

Last year, for my birthday, she gave me a card that simply read:

Three Hours of Free Babysitting.

Could there be a nicer present to give a (newish) mom?

Well, ten months later I took her up on it. Gray got to hang out at our house, play basketball, make pizza and read books with my friend and her daughter, while Jackson and I went out on a real date.

Drinks, dinner. No dancing, technically, though I was practically dancing as I surprised Jackson with the plan for a dinner out, just us.

So if you have a friend with a baby/toddler/kiddo who doesn’t get out much but loves to catch up with her husband every six months or so, I highly recommend this gift. It works for Christmas, Valentine’s and Columbus Day as well.