Date Night: No Sitter? No Problem!
Erin Burt
Before we had kids, every night was date night. Whether we went out to dinner or just cooked at home, we constantly had time to just focus on each other. After kids, it seems like we barely get a chance to have a conversation without some sort of interruption.
While we would love to make date nights a priority, we can’t always find a babysitter. Sometimes you have to think outside of the box. Instead of paying a sitter, sometimes we put the kids to bed early and have a date night at home. Here are some ideas that allow you to connect with your spouse without leaving the house.
Dinner and a Movie
Take a night off from cooking, and order in! We love to order take out from a favorite restaurant and rent a movie to watch once we get the kids to sleep. Just be sure to put those phones away and spend some time together!
Board Games/Card Games
We love to play board games! Monopoly, Clue, and Uno are classic favorites. Truth or Dare for couples and Monogamy are games designed for couples to play together. It doesn’t really matter what the game is. Just be intentional about spending time together, and laughing together is a bonus!
Cook Together
Find a new recipe you haven’t tried before and cook it together. If you want to get really creative, choose a country you’d love to visit and let that be your dinner inspiration. You can go all out and make multiple courses as well. The important thing is just to have fun trying something new together.
In-Home Spa
Wear comfortable bath robes and slippers, and enjoy a romantic night of relaxation. Draw a bath for two and drop in some bath bombs. Relax with some body scrubs and a face mask. You can even end the evening with a relaxing massage. You don’t have to go to an expensive spa to relax and unwind together!
DIY Wine and Paint Night
Grab your favorite bottle of wine, some paint, and canvases. You can use a YouTube tutorial to guide you, or get a canvas with paint-by-number for adults to make it easier!
Whatever you choose to do, just be sure to do something. It isn’t always easy to stay connected to your spouse after having kids, so it’s important to be intentional about making time for each other. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to have a big impact on your relationship. Just be sure to laugh, connect, and enjoy the company!
Wendy is a mother of four who lives in central Illinois where she blogs at TheMessyMom.net.