Mom’s monthly routine with son aims to teach him the art of planning thoughtful dates

While modern-day romance often revolves around swipes and screens, some still value old-school dating experiences. To become thoughtful and considerate in relationships, a few unwritten rules should be followed. A foresightful mom believes it’s important to start learning dating etiquette at an early age. The single parent and entrepreneur, Melissa Ann Marie—who goes by @melissaannmariee on Instagram—decided to teach her 12-year-old son the art of planning creative dates. The catch? He has to work within a limited budget, preparing the teen well in advance so he isn’t completely lost when the time comes.

The idea is to help her son learn how to plan a smooth date while also spending quality time together. In a widely shared video, Melissa explained that she gives her son $50 each month to take her out on a date. “It's really nice because we get to spend thoughtful, intentional time together, but the catch is that I make him plan it,” the entrepreneur shared with her 267K followers.

“I want him to learn to be thoughtful and creative when it comes to planning dates with women,” Melissa shared. She admitted that $50 wasn’t much for a date but saw it as a valuable opportunity for her son to plan something meaningful. “I always encourage him to have fun with it,” the single mom revealed. For one of their dates, the teen planned a trip to the movies, costing $14. Here, the teen got to learn about paying attention to his partner’s preferences, such as asking where they’d like to sit during the film. The mom-and-son’s next stop was a restaurant for a wholesome meal. Melissa applauded her son for his gentlemanly gestures, like opening doors and pulling out a chair for her at the dinner table.

Furthermore, Melissa taught her son how to give a waiter a non-verbal cue for the check. She appreciated his effort in signaling the waiter discreetly and ensuring he didn’t walk ahead of her at any point. The bill at the restaurant came to $21, bringing their total so far to $35. After the meal, her son took her to a local Boba shop for a refreshing drink. They enjoyed their beverages together, spending an additional $8, making the entire date a thoughtful and well-budgeted experience.

The mom left with a smile on her face, proud that her son had managed to pull off the entire date within the budget. “He only spent $43 and learned a lot tonight. I’m really proud,” the text overlay stated. “He planned a really fun one, and I enjoyed teaching him these things along the way and getting some one-on-one time together,” read the caption. Melissa also expressed that she looked forward to going on such dates with her son in the future.

The fun activity is designed to help the boy master the dating game so he can be the “best partner” for someone someday. Among the many reactions, @lisamoneymosley commented, “Someone’s daughter is going to be very appreciative that you did this.” “I hope he gets to keep the money he didn’t spend and for such a good job,” @xojadetxo joked. “Mom of the year! Wow, next generation he’d be a gem for these beautiful souls out there,” @tamm.zzy lauded.

You can follow Melissa Ann Marie (@melissaannmariee) on Instagram for more dating and lifestyle content.