Rekindling the Spark: Navigating Date Nights After Kids in Lincoln Park
Fellow travelers in this grand, unpredictable game of life, it’s LPD here—Lincoln Park Dad—keeping things under wraps, as per usual. Let’s ponder the quiet art of reigniting the connection with your partner once the little ones crash the scene. It’s a choice, a steady push against the tide of daily demands, approached with understanding for the weariness it brings and a calm determination to see it through.
My wife and I planted roots in Chicago, drawn by its relentless energy, with no family nearby to call on for backup. We’ve made our peace with that—embraced it, even. The city’s food landscape serves as our compass; she’s got that deep-seated passion for it, diving into everything from avant-garde tasting menus to unassuming dives slinging authentic street eats. Stepping out, though? That hinges on securing a babysitter, a side quest that rivals decoding an ancient scroll. (I’ll unpack that riddle in a later dispatch—hint: lean on community for background checks.)
Our initial foray back into the night felt like teleporting into a parallel universe. There we were, amidst the throng of untethered twenty-somethings reveling without a care, while we navigated the remnants of our pre-parent selves. Like fish floundering on dry land, but we persisted. Sharing plates at a tucked-away spot in the neighborhood, conversations drifting beyond the logistics of tiny humans—it was a reminder that the bond endures, if you tend to it deliberately. If you’re plotting your own escape, consider starting with something whimsical like Batter & Berries for their inventive French toast flights that turn brunch into an adventure—perfect for shaking off the routine (batterandberries.com).
Parenthood? It’s one of life’s profound roles, a character arc that can eclipse all others because the demands never pause. The young ones pull you in constantly, reshaping your world. Yet, recalling the person you were before—that core essence—is vital. We make space for it: I carve out time for the gym, cranking those vintage rap tracks that echo my earlier chapters, a ritual of sweat and rhythm. She indulges in manicures and quiet luxuries, moments to reset. These aren’t indulgences; they’re anchors, keeping us grounded amid the storm.
The partnership itself, though—that’s the sacred thread weaving through it all. Offspring will challenge it, probing every seam, particularly in those foggy early months, the so-called fourth trimester, where sleep is a myth and tempers fray like old ropes. Dads these days shoulder more than generations past; my own father, as lore has it, never once tackled a diaper change. We’re in the thick of it now—feedings, soothing, the endless loop—and it’s equal parts exhausting and enriching.
The wisdom here? Cultivate the practice of courtship anew, loving with intention, echoing the selves you were before the plot twisted. Force those evenings (see “local spots” page): a culinary odyssey across Chicago’s wards, perhaps channeling your inner epicurean at Galit for Middle Eastern flavors with a modern twist that sparks deeper dialogues (galitrestaurant.com), or unwinding at North Pond where the seasonal menu and pond views offer a stoic reminder of nature’s cycles (northpondrestaurant.com). For something more irreverent, hit The Wiener’s Circle for char dogs with a side of witty banter—because sometimes, a dash of absurdity reignites the fun (wienerscirclechicago.com). Or go bold with Pequod’s Pizza, where the caramelized crust deep-dish defies expectations, much like parenting itself (pequodspizza.com). A stand-up set that cracks the facade of routine, or a simple lakeside amble. It’s not evasion of parental duties; it’s equilibrium, honoring the foundation while building onward.
If you’re charting similar waters in Lincoln Park or beyond, steady on. The effort yields its quiet rewards.
—LPD
Lincoln Park Dad 