It’s safe to say that when the kids come along your relationship takes a bit of a back seat.
It’s safe to say that when the kids come along your relationship takes a bit of a back seat. It is not a poor reflection of your love – it’s just life.
The logistics of life change drastically and everything is turned on its head for a little while at least. When the time comes to start thinking about going on a date night there will be so many different factors to consider.
Finding a trusted babysitter, deciding on a suitable venue and not to mention the dreaded outfit decisions (it’s been a while). It will be worth it in the end though right? An opportunity to connect as a couple and a little reminder that you were just a couple before you became mum and dad.
Have you ever considered that a mid-week date night might be the best option overall? There are so many benefits to having a mid-week date night and if you think about it it’s actually a whole lot easier and better for parents.
This is why!
1. Money is always going to be an obstacle now that you have an endless supply of nappies and baby products to keep stock-piled. Going on a mid-week date nights means you will get to benefit from the brilliant early bird offers that tend to run in restaurants between Mondays and Thursdays. Cheaper date nights means more date nights.
2. Babysitters will be a lot easier to find. Chances are your mum, Dad or sister won’t mind sitting in your house for a couple of hours mid week. Most people have their own plans at the weekend though.
3. You’ll be less tempted to go for that second glass of wine if you know that tomorrow is a regular weekday. One or both of you will most likely be in work the following day and it just won’t be worth it. You’ll sleep better and feel fresh as a daisy tomorrow.
4. There is actually something really exciting about being in a nice restaurant, pub or at the cinema in the middle of the week. It feels a bit bold (yes, we need to get out more).
5. It means the weekend can still be used for maximum relaxing. You can get a takeaway, go to the park and head out for coffee as normal. Weekend date nights tend to involve a huge level of planning and organizing and it can really take over the whole weekend.
6. You will miss each other the next day. Honestly, you will. When one (or both) of you head off to work the next day you will miss each other having spent a lovely evening reconnecting. Missing each other is actually a good thing.
7. Communication will probably be a lot better at the beginning of the week. You might want to chat about an upcoming holiday or plans you have made but as the week goes on tiredness levels tend to grow and you will both feel less enthusiastic about doing a huge amount of talking.
8. There is more of a chance that the date night will end in some... physical fun. Midweek date nights tend to wrap up earlier leaving more time to reconnect at home. That’s never going to be a bad thing.
Tracey is a happy mammy to four-year-old Billy. She is a breastfeeder, gentle parent and has recently lost five stone so healthy family eating is her passion! You can find her at www.loveofliving.com.
