When you’re a parent, the luxury of spending quality time with your partner tends to disappear in the delivery room. Post-kids, it can become hard to remember what it felt like to be “the two of you. The transition from two to three is one of the most profound challenges a couple will ever face. For a while, there seems to be less for the couple: Less time, less communication, less sleep, less money, less privacy. Spending quality alone time with your significant other matters equally as much—especially now that there’s more of you..
Here are some cheap and easy ways to spend quality time with your partner
Have a Fancy Night In
If heading out to a fancy date just isn’t in the budget right now, bring the dinner-and-a-movie date to you. Resolve to feed, bathe and put the kids to bed early one Saturday, then get prepped for your fancy night in. Wear that Little Black Dress that’s been gathering dust in your closet. Make some popcorn ahead of time. Decide on the movie you’ll watch in advance. Then, uncork your favorite bottle of wine and make the date night happen in your living room. This
Recreate Your First Date
Schedule a first date and pretend this is the first time you’re going out together…ever. Since finding time without kids is half the battle, make it a lunch date to guarantee the time alone. Schedule it in your calendar and treat it with the same gravitas as a real work appointment—in other words, make a reservation and be sure to dress to impress. On that day, there’s no emailing back and forth about work or life obligations. And, at lunch, stick to date-friendly topics, like the fascinating book you just read, or the hobby you’re dying to try. You just might learn something new about each other.
Use Your Talents to Score Some Alone Time
Try swapping your talents. For example, if photography is your thing, offer to take a family portrait for your friend in exchange for a couple of hours of something you can agree to..
Steal Away on a Vacation with Built-In Day Care
When planning your next getaway, consider a place that offers kids’ clubs or babysitters so that you can grab a little alone time, in addition to having fun as a family. For tropical options, look for places with supervised children’s programs and free activities that both parents and young kids can enjoy.
Getting enough couple time builds intimacy, opens communication and strengthens your bond, which in turn strengthens your marriage. Plus, it provides your kids with a good example for their own future relationships
