Date Night When You Have Small Kids

It's a common dilemma: you and your spouse are so busy with work, the kids, and taking care of the house that you barely seem to have time for each other. Don't let this situation spiral out of control and become the norm. Instead, schedule regular date nights so that quality time and romance are a priority for both of you as a couple.

Here are four tips for doing just that.

Pay for Childcare

Childcare isn't just for working parents. Sometimes it's a great idea to pay for childcare during your time off from work, in order to have time alone as a couple. Your kids will enjoy socializing with other children their age in a safe, supervised, and fun environment. 

At the same time, you and your spouse will get to enjoy each other's company and conversation without all the focus being on your children. You will return to your kids more refreshed and relaxed, which is good for the whole family.

Plan Date Nights at Home

Even when it's not possible to hire a babysitter, you can still have romantic dates. Plan to have a romantic night in after your kids go to bed. Something as simple as a shared bottle of wine and a movie, board game, or just catching up with a long heart-to-heart can do wonders for your feeling of intimacy with your partner.

In order to really focus on each other and make the most of your date night at home, try to spend a few hours unplugged from technology, setting aside your cell phones, tablets, and laptops for the evening.

Take Turns Planning Dates

You don't want date nights to become a source of stress in the relationship. Instead of allowing one partner to feel pressured to plan every date, make an effort to take turns instead. This can be an especially fun way to handle date nights if you keep your date night plans a surprise from each other each week.

Schedule It

It's easy to get busy and keep postponing date night for another time. Instead, try to actually schedule dates on the calendar as a standing appointment. Your dates will soon become something you both count on and look forward to every week, or however often you decide to schedule them.

Regular date nights take effort and planning, but can make a huge difference in the quality of your relationship. By making date nights a priority, you will keep your relationship from growing stagnant and boring.