Children, especially babies and toddlers, take a lot of energy, resources, and time. Often that energy and time take away from the free time mom and dad may have had to date each other prior to welcoming their babies. This can make dating and quality time more challenging than it may have been before.
As a mom of three littles with no family nearby, I have had to find creative ways to date my husband during this very busy season of life. Do I miss going out on the town and spending kid free time together? Absolutely. In fact, that is one of the things I long for the most, but there are also many ways to enjoy each other’s company in the comfort of our own home.
Games and date night can go hand in hand.
No, I’m not referring to video games. Well, unless you’re both into those. I’m referring to board and card games. My husband loves games. He’s all about the strategy and the challenge. I lean more towards games that lean on chance instead of mental prowess. But we have both found playing games to be a welcome change from the typical TV nights we fall into. Some of our favorite games are Farkle, Unstable Unicorns, Exploding Kittens, Catan (two person version), and good ole card deck games.
Find a show that you can look forward to watching once a week.
With social media, phones, and TV all around us and so easily accessible, it is easy to over indulge. I often find that I use TV and shows as a way to numb the tiredness and mental load that comes with being a mom and adult. But one thing I do love is watching our show together. My husband and I rotate between watching shows like The Voice that premiere weekly and other shows that are binge-watchable on streaming apps. I enjoy the former the most. Having a day that I know we will sit together and enjoy a show makes the day more enjoyable and builds anticipation. And it also prevents us from falling into the couch and zoning out at the end of a long day.
Order in dinner instead of a date out.
I LOVE eating out at restaurants. Maybe it’s because I’m the cook in our family, but there’s just something about a moody, nicely lit environment eating food I didn’t need to worry about that makes me feel young and alive. However, with no family close, dining sans kids is rarely an option. That’s why I am incredibly grateful for Doordash. When we’re feeling like we need a pick-me-up or a spontaneous date night, we order food from one of our favorite places and dig in the second our kids are in bed. Since we don’t do this incredibly often, it makes it even more special when we do.
Ultimate Intimacy
It’s no secret that intimacy is a huge part of marriage. Even though having kids can change the game a bit, this is still a crucial element to dating and connecting with one’s spouse. I was recently introduced to the app called “Ultimate Intimacy.” It has content such as games, conversation starters, etc. that help add a fun element to quality time.
There are so many ways to connect with your spouse in the season of young parenthood. It’s not easy and requires intention, but it is incredibly rewarding and worth it. I hope these tips help inspire you to date your spouse this week.
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