The importance of Date Night

I'm a mother of 3 young children (ages 3, 2 and 5 months) and being at home with these three is a full time gig and it's tough!  Cleaning, cooking, laundry, shopping it never stops plus don't forget about feeding, preparing meals, breaking up arguments over toys, handing out snacks, changing diapers and playtime with the kids.  some days I realize around 5pm that I haven't even showered - yuck!   My husband works long hours as a salesman and his hours involve a lot of weekends and evenings - which is tough on all of us.  So we decided early on to have a designated 'date night'.  We have a babysitter every Wednesday night and we go out.  She handles the kids' dinner and baths - they kids know her very well and just adore her - and my husband and I have a night without all of the parental responsibilities. 

It's a great opportunity to re-connect and have some fun!  I am able to get out of my mommy uniform and relax a bit.  Some of our great date night ideas: couples massage, dinner out (not at a family restaurant - sushi is a big favourite), yoga class, out for drinks, movies...We are looking into a cooking class now.

Date night is great for all of us.  It gives my husband and I a break from the kids but it also gives the kids exposure to someone else.  Someone that mommy and daddy trust and it helps them to build confidence.  They know we are coming back and because of our regular date night our kids don't really make strange.

It's so important for your kids to see you and your husband as a couple, too.  it's healthy and sets a healthy example of a relationship.  We have a lot of friends who once they became parents kind of forgot about each other and many of them are now legally separated and only communicate about pick up/drop off times for the kids;  and others just do not have a relationship with their spouse at all. 

If you absolutely cannot get a sitter (or one than you trust) why not have a date night at home? after the kids have gone to bed, have a glass of wine, cook an awesome meal together, indulge in a decadent dessert, shut off the TV, or rent a movie that you both have really wanted to see, have your own couples book club...whatever you decide to do have that one on one time as a couple to have a strong relationship.