As parents, our lives revolve around our children with most of our days being spent earning money to look after them, spending time with them, playing, reading and just being there for them. That’s what we signed up for when we became parents. However, that doesn’t mean that we are bad parents for wanting a bit of time away from our kids from time to time.
Date nights are a chance to recharge and have a break from the strains and pressure of being parents.
When you first started dating, the aim of time spent together was to get to know each other and have a nice time doing it. There is no good reason why this should stop just because you have kids in your life now.
If there is something we the editors of Parent Slate, have learned through personal experience about date nights, is that planning ahead is vital, while staying flexible. That way, when things don’t go according to plan, and this happens frequently, all is not lost and you can still have a nice time. is nds and lovers. u’n idea to do something that to the cine.
As a rule of thumb, we would recommend organizing a date night at least once a month. While not adding unnecessary pressure on either of you, it also helps you to get back into the habit of spending quality time together alone.
Enlist the help of a relative or close friend as a babysitter for the little rascals, set a date and time, and get out there. There is no limit to what you could do for a date night, as long as it is something you both are comfortable with.
Some couples we know (Phoebe and her partner for instance) take turns deciding where they are going to go and what they are going to do for date night, which may work for you.
A classic date night combination is one activity either preceded or preceded by a meal. So, if you both love movies, you could go to the cinema and then have a meal afterward, while if you both really love music, your date night could consist of a nice meal and a gig.
It’s important not to worry though if you can’t afford anything too extravagant as it is possible to have a perfectly fun date night from the comfort of your own home.
You could even arrange for your babysitter to take your kids out for the evening or even better overnight and have a nice home-cooked meal. A nice twist on things is to both choose a different course to prepare and keep it secret so there’s an element of surprise and perhaps work on the dessert together.
If you don’t fancy cooking though, you could just get some of your favorite takeaways and spend the night snuggled on the sofa in front of the TV.
Perhaps when you feel a little more comfortable with the idea of being away from the kids for the night, you could play a night or two away in a hotel, glamping, or B&B.
We are always keen to hear from our readers so we want to ask you, what do you do for date nights? Tell us your ideas and stories below!
